"Doctors' Revolution" was prepared by 40 physicians in Rokitansky's pathology department, as this was not under police surveillance even during the Metternich era. Due to Rokitansky's liberal attitudes, the construction of a new building was repeatedly delayed by the government. Thus he spent 35 years working in the old building which he described as being in such a state that it would "cause lasting harm to even the most robust health". In his legendary address "Freedom for Natural Science!" delivered at the inauguration of the new Pathological Anatomical Institute in 1862, Rokitansky demanded that science should be free from political interference. By virtue of the key positions he held in various academic and political bodies, Rokitansky also had a significant influence on Liberalism in Austria. In 1863, Rokitansky was appointed by Anton von Schmerling as medical adviser to the Ministry of the Interior. In this capacity, he had great influence on university organisation, the content of medical teaching and appointments. In his pamphlet "Zeitfragen betreffend die Universität …" (1863) he addressed among other things, freedom of teaching and learning and demanded modern, interdisciplinary teaching. In "Die Conformität der Universitäten ..." (1863) he called for equality of opportunity for all students in the Habsburg Monarchy. He demanded that all universities should teach all disciplines and that examinations should be standardised. In response to his urging, the school for barber-surgeons in Graz and Innsbruck became medical faculties in 1863 and 1869, thus becoming fully-fledged universities. Moreover, he advocated opening the University of Vienna to students from the crownlands in the east and did his best to counter the emerging strains of nationalism. On 25 November 1867, Rokitansky was "unexpectedly and unpreparedly" appointed for life to the upper chamber of the Reichsrat by Emperor Franz Joseph I. As the main speaker for the Liberal Party in the chamber, Rokitansky demanded in 1868 that each confession with the resources to do so should have the right to open schools for its children. In his endeavours to advance "freedom and progress", he contributed significantly to university reform and to improving the healthcare system. Under his presidency (1850–1878) the College of Physicians in Vienna campaigned for the construction of the pipelines that would bring fresh water from the mountains to Vienna. On 17 July 1848, Rokitansky became a Full Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, where on 26 June 1851 he gave his lecture Ueber