MYSTIC-IDEALIST PHILOSOPHY OF DR. V. BERON

Vasil Beron is born in Kotel in the year 1824 from a family of rich cattle breeder. His maiden name is Jellalsky and he is sisterly son of Dr. Petar Beron, famous figure from Bulgarian Enlightenment. His primary education he received at birth-place while in 1839 he departs for Krayova /Romania/ to join his uncle. After completing courses in Greek and French languages young Vasil enrolls in Tzarigrad's Patriarchal School at Kurucheshme. There he studies two years and transfers to Odessa's Richelieu Lyceum and graduates with honors in 1846.

Twenty two years old Beron is supposed to continue his father as a merchant, but luckily being a favorite and mentored again by Dr. Petar Beron - the latter already on a profitable practice in Paris - to continue his education in a university, Vasil enrolls as a student in medicine at Munich. Next, he goes to Wurzburg and in the year 1852 graduates with a doctoral dissertation "Uber den Startkrampf und den Indishen Hanf als Heilmittel Gegen Denselben", viz. on the pathology, diagnosis and prognosis of "tetanus" or lock-jaw, inclusive, a case study on healing properties of "indian hemp" or Cannabis Sativa from Family Moraceae. Note: the dried leaves is called "marijuana" and the dried flowers is called "hashish", both contain as their principal component narcotic resins.

Now, having received solid education Dr. Vasil Beron moves to Vienna to strengthen his clinical experience. There he had the opportunity to attend lectures from such famous medical celebrities as Josef Skoda /1805-1881/ and Karl Rokitanky /1804-1878/. Unfortunately, his work was hampered by the outbreak of the Crimean War. Dr. Beron is mobilized at the Russian Military Hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

By the end of the war we see the young patriot dispatched to Turnovo, Bulgaria. Here Dr. Beron is acclaimed as a leader. He has been city physician, but also chairman of church's and teacher's community. In ideological light Beron stand on progressist and evolutionist position. Some facts, however, show that he has not been totally impartial towards the revolutionary struggle of his people. This is evidenced by few reports from the Austrian council from Russe to the Turkish authorities. Having troubles with the Turks makes him flee to Bessarabia, in Bolgrad. On 4 December 1864 Dr. Beron is appointed Principal to the local community school. He is engaged in natural history, pedagogic and sanitary control. The patriot, again, excels in nationality activities by means of public oration. He is famous for propagation of the ideas of brothers Cyril and Metodius, creators of the slavic alphabet.

Some historians say that Dr. Beron was back in the capital city Turnova before the Liberation Day. This is, however, highly improbable as is evidenced by the memoirs of revivalists M. Keffalov and P. Kissimov. One way or another, Beron is back in his native country and is welcomed with respect. He is elected member of Parliament and takes different administrative-political duties in the Office, as well as, other non-governmental positions as a physician, educator and secularist. Most notably he is president of the Archaeological Society in Turnovo /1884/; associate /1870/ and full /1884/ member of the Bulgarian Literary Society which is the forerunner of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; receiver of medal "For Civic Valor", 3^rd degree /1902/. Beron dies on 24 September 1909 in Sofia.

Viewpoints on Dr. Vasil Beron's versatile heritage reveal a rare genius. It is hand in hand with the creative work of his uncle Dr. Petar Beron, author of the encyclopedic "Panepisteme", that we can rank the Beron family as exceptional. People does not choose their ancestors, but here we see a lineage that continues to give a series of professors even up to our own day. Superlative aside, a source for studying V. Beron's philosophical concepts are unequivocal. His most famous works are: "Logic. Vienna: L. Somer Printers, 1861", "Natural history. Bolgrad: Central School Printers, 1870", "Archeological and Historical Reports. Turnovo: P. H. Panayotov Printers, 1886", etc.

Dr. Vasil Beron makes a worthy contribution to the development of bulgarian scentific thought in the period of the Enlightenment and the first decades after the Liberation in 1878 and in the beginning of the modern Bulgarian State. It is far more precious that all his works are written in a bulgarian language. Thus, by directly offering the wisdom of a worlds treasure he makes an advancement in literary aspect as well. This is evidence that the bulgarian nation has the potential to be abreast with those who are ahead in progress and peace.