[Definition of the history of medicine in the interpretation of Władysław Szumowski]

Władysław Szumowski is said to be one of the most eminent Polish historians of medicine. The present text is an attempt of describing Szumowski's ideas of the essence of the history of medicine, its place among sciences and a role it should play in education of future doctors. The paper presents both the definition and the methodology, which in Szumowski's opinion should result from the philosophy, and particularly from the logic. Szumowski is referring to these research inspirations, scientists and conceptions that had a significant influence on him. At the same time the author of the article is willing to extract an original thought of Szumowski and divide it from adopted ideas of other people's conceptions.