November 21, 2022 7:45 pm
Korney Chukovsky’s character had a real prototype.
Poetic lines about the kind doctor Aibolit from Korney Chukovsky’s story are familiar to several generations of children. But few people know that the hero had a prototype of him. Even before the revolution, during a trip to Vilnius, the writer stayed at the house of Tsemakh Shabad. This doctor was known throughout the city for his infinite compassion. The doctor was called in the Russian manner Timofey Osipovich. He did a lot for his hometown: he opened shelters and canteens for homeless people, ran a hospital. And most importantly, he never refused to help patients.
The children ran to the local Aibolit complaining of chattering teeth and broken knees. And with them they often brought pets and animals collected on the street. Shabad did not refuse anyone: he never accepted payment from the children for his services. Chukovsky recalled that he was amazed at how skillfully a doctor once delivered a cat from pain, in whose mouth a hook was stuck. The bleeding animal was brought to the doctor by the children.
He patiently tinkered with pigeons and kittens, dogs and livestock, even though he wasn’t a vet. The doctor died at the age of 70 from blood poisoning: he cut himself during one of his operations. At his funeral, all the inhabitants of the city wept.
