CONTENT

ISTVÁN PALKOVITS: THOUGHTS ON THE COMPETITION
(On the economy of Vas county with the eyes of a researcher)

------------------------The evaluation of the economical perspectives of Vas County is in the cross-fire of serious professional debates. Several facts can be mentioned against the advantageous statistical indices according to which a more nuanced and a contradictory picture could be drawn. Behind the observable prosperity, there is a strongly polarised, economical basis of dual aspect that is burdened with significant competitiveness and management problems. Still, the economy of the county has to provide answers for the economical challenges imposed by the new millennium. Holding ground in the global competition, however, needs strategies that exceed the short-term exploitation of the geographical location. The requirement of the long-term competitiveness probably requires new attitude and behaviour of the local economical actors and local economical policies.

TAMÁS CSAPÓ: THE SITUATION OF VILLAGES IN VAS COUNTY

------------------------The villages of the county after the system changeover underwent a significant change. Their situation improved, however, the situation is more nuanced. The infrastructural supply of the villages became better especially regarding the conduit gas supply and telecommunication services. The villages are the target areas in the migration within the county - improving by this the demographic situation of the settlements. The changeover to the market economy has strongly appeared in the increase of number of enterprises established at villages especially within the area of services - however, the agriculture that did mean the main basis of existence for villages is still in crisis.
The waste disposal is still a great problem in villages because of the opening of pricescissors of the public utilities as well as the lack of canalisation. The number of villages' population is decreasing therefore the age and sexual distribution is highly disadvantageous. In the last ten years the villages in Vas County have further differentiated therefore significant development differences are present regarding the villages' regional situation.

TERÉZIA BALOGH-HORVÁTH: WHITSUNDAY HORSE RACINGAT THE COUNTRY-TOWN CSEPREG IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19^TH CENTURY

------------------------At Csepreg, located near Kőszeg a Whitsunday custom has been exercised with the support of the squire until 1847. The unmarried young men fought for the title of Whitsunday King on horserace with unsaddled peasant horses. First, the settlement's principals brought forth the last year winner with a big flower-crown on his head and the march then went to the pasture (cf. map with the name: "Lófuttató hely" - "Horse racing place") accompanied by Gipsy band music. After a command, the competitors raced three times on a certain distance. The finish was indicated by a red flag. The winner of the third run won definitely the crown and became a Whitsunday King. He, then, was entitled to eat and drink for free in the settlement's pub. Moreover, his horse was not levied if the horse would have caused damage during grazing. After the horse racing a ball was organised - for this, money was gathered. The crown of the Whitsunday King was placed on the "forelock" of his house (on the top of the thatched roof) and kept there. (cf. photo of a typical house at Csepreg) In 1844 the crown has been replaced by a red hussar shako that might been similar to the cap that has been worn by the hussar recruits at Csepreg in the beginning of the 20^th century (cf. photo).

ZOLTÁN NAGY: CLAY PIPES AT KÖRMEND
(Could a clay-pipe manufacturing centre operate at Körmend in the beginningof the 19^th century?)

------------------------The author has carried out the examination of about 1500 clay-pipe fragments discovered during the archaeological exploration at two sites at Körmend. The clay-pipes are made in majority of terra-cotta. A smaller part is glazed. They are embellished by sculptural ornaments, sealed geometrical ornaments, master-signs and trade names and were made using pressing methods. The pipes' forms are similar to those popular pipe forms manufactured at Selmec. By researches I archives it could be identified the Jewish manufacturers operating from 1820. Based on the examination of the semi-prepared products it could be determined that they have applied other renowned masters' name stamp on their products. It is likely that due to the significant clay-pipe manufactures operating at the neighbouring Pápa and Darázsfalu (today: Trausdorf) the production at Körmend has been terminated in the mid 19^th century.

VILMOS BRENNER: THE BAROQUE WORLD OF CENTRAL EUROPE
(Thoughts and references regarding the Austrian links of the Hungarian baroque art)

------------------------The art of the Central European nations constitutes an interwoven unity in which the local or national characteristics play a little role. This statement is especially true for the almost two centuries of the baroque age. The centre of the Danube-European baroque art was in Vienna. The Austrian art mediated the Italian and French influences, however, the own dynamical creative force of the Emperor's City has an even greater significance. The effects of this can be perceived on the Hungarian baroque works - especially on those produced in the 18^th century that constitute one of the golden ages of the Hungarian art.

ZSUZSANNA TÓTH: THE AUSTRIAN PROTECTOR IN HUNGARY
(St. Leopold Illustrations in Hungary)

------------------------Margrave Leopold the 3^rd of Babenberg (1075-1136) - canonised in 1485 - has a similar role in Austria just as St. Stephen in Hungary. The family ruled for 270 years: they were followed by the Habsburgs. His country-founder historical role makes him similar to St. Stephen. He lived in the period following St. Stephen and his holyday on 15^th November is still a church and secular holiday at our western neighbours. The Babenberg-house and the Árpád-house has several times become related in the early Middle Ages. Leopold von Babenberg - founder of abbacy and churches - has several times been immortalised on monuments. Such monuments can still be found in Hungary, first of all in the western part of the country. The building of these can be mainly connected to the baroque age, the then-time church superiors, as well as the settling of Germans to Hungary after the Turkish period. When researching his cult and remembrances, the attention is oriented toward a less known, however interesting aspect of the Hungarian culture.

KORNÉL VARGA-ANDRÁS TURAY-PÁL KNEFFEL-VALÉRIA DANCSECS-ÁGNES PÉCSI-BOLDIZSÁR HORVÁTH: EXPERIENCES REGARDING THE UTILISATIONOF CONTRAMAL DURING THE OBSTETRICAL PAINKILLING

------------------------The authors have performed a survey on the painkilling efficiency of the Contramal (Tramadol) in the dilation phase of the birth. By using a visual analogue scale the authors examined at 40 parturient women the strength of the childbirth throes deemed by the bearing mothers. The results were compared with the pain strength perceived by 40 carefully selected parturient women that were not treated with painkillers in the dilution phase of the birth. The survey has been carried out between 1^st April 2000 and 31^st March 2000. The pain registered by those treated with Contramal was reduced significantly compared to the properly fitted control group's pain values. The effect of the Contramal on the newborn babies has also been examined. According to the results the Contramal has an advantageous side-effect profile in easing the childbirth throes that is ensuring the very weak opioid effect as well as the spinal cord's monoaminerg inhibiting descending systems' stimulation.

NÁNDOR BOKOR-ZSOLT JAKAB-ANITA KISS-ZOLTÁN DÖBRÖNTE:THE INFLAMMATORY INTESTINAL DISEASES (IID)

------------------------The overview regarding the patients suffering from IID - beyond providing information on Vas County epidemiological data - has been motivated by the fact that how the course and outcome of the chronic disease can be relieved. The experiences show that the patient guidance based on modern principles produces good results. By an organised care taking the relapse could be prevented or treated in an early stage and prevent the complications. It is an outstanding result that we did not lost patients due to the basic illness or diseases connected to it.
The care taking discipline proved to be better among the patients suffering from Crohn-disease then among those suffering from colitis ulcerosa. The fact that despite of this, the Crohn-patients needed in a greater proportion hospitalisation because of the condition deterioration can be explained by the nature of the disease, not due to the insufficient care taking. We did not lost Crohn-patients due to the basic illness.