This is Ignaz Semmelweis who pioneered germ-theory in an eccentric way. He stated in 1847 that doctors need to wash their hands to prevent infection. His theories were disregarded and he died in an asylum.
Historical context here is key. 1847 precedes the mass exodus of Germans to the United States to form the first Kindergarten here. This revolution in Vienna was due to a fight over educating women and children. Lola Montez had bent the ear of the king of Vienna (Ludwig) toward educating and liberating women and building universities. This revolution led to the creation of the German Alemmannen (all men/only men) and eventually the National Socialist party of Germany. The majority of Jewish folks were farmers at the time, and this lead to conflicts since the German state wanted control over the agriculture. Not only were men of science silenced, but women of education and repute, even Kings were silenced by the rabid fascism of the people. Kindergarten was not financed by the state in Germany until the 1990s. The point was to keep the women and children subservient and ignorant with no medical care. Dozens of hospitals and maternity wards carry Semmelweis' name now in Hungary. I have many books on Lola Montez in my personal library if you'd like to read more ("Lola Montez" by Bruce Seymour and "The Infinite Woman"). She even played in Buffalo once after her time in Europe, it was very controversial!