Pojam sepse povezuje se s modernom medicinom, ali sam koncept seže daleko u prošlost. Stoljećima je bila inspiracija za gotovo sve vrste umjetnosti, vjerno oslikavajući težinu stanja koje izaziva, strah i visoku smrtnost koja ju prati u stopu. Unatoč različitim stilovima života, čovječanstvo već tisućama godina obolijeva od sepse. U početku se na nju gledalo kao na neizbježan ishod teških bolesti, bez mogućnosti izlječenja. Taj se pristup promijenio tek u 20. stoljeću zahvaljujući eksponencijalnom napretku dijagnostičkih metoda i terapije. Povijesno niska javna i profesionalna svijest o sepsi dovela je do toga da je dugo bila “tihi ubojica”. Moderna medicina nastoji raznim mjerama spriječiti nastanak infekcija i provesti liječenje odgovarajućom terapijom. Usprkos tome mikroorganizmi drže korak s čovjekom i jednostavnim, a brzim prilagodbama uspjeli su razviti značajnu otpornost na antibiotike. Antimikrobna rezistencija jedan je od vodećih problema današnje medicine. U ovom su radu prikazane značajne prekretnice u povijesti septičnih stanja i evolucija prema postantibiotskoj eri. Brz napredak u dijagnostičkim i terapijskim mogućnostima baca novo svjetlo na prirodu sepse, ali u praksi još uvijek čini vrlo malo za oboljele. Sveobuhvatan pogled u prošlost mogao bi pomoći u pronalaženju odgovora na još uvijek neriješena pitanja vezana uz ovu bolest.
U članku se na temelju arhivskoga gradiva dubrovačke bolnice fonda „Bolnica – nesređena građa” Državnog arhiva u Dubrovniku obrađuje pitanje oboljelih od spolnih zaraznih bolesti tijekom Prvoga svjetskog rata. Dubrovačko je društvo 19. stoljeća za visok porast oboljelih od spolnih bolesti okrivljavalo postojanje neinstitucionalizirane prostitucije. Nastanak javnih kuća trebao je dovesti do kontrole bolesti. Početkom Prvoga svjetskog rata, porastom broja vojnika i blizinom crnogorskog ratišta, povećava se broj oboljelih od spolnih bolesti. Značaj spolnih prenosivih bolesti u ratnim uvjetima posebno je važan i utječe na rezultate ratnog sukoba. Stoga vojne vlasti pokušavaju raznim preventivnim mjerama kontrolirati epidemiju spolnih prenosivih bolesti. Među spolnim bolestima posebno se izdvajaju sifilis i gonoreja. Bolnički kapaciteti nisu bili dovoljni za sve oboljele od sifilisa i povremeno je bolnica blokirala prijam oboljelih.
The ancient Greek historian Thucydides described in his book “History of the Peloponnesian War” one of the earliest epidemics in known human history, the “Plague of Athens”. The plague, which lasted from 430–426 B.C., had a death toll estimated at around 75,000 – 100,000. The importance of the plague was immense. Pericles, the historical leader of Athens, was among its victims, and his death was just the beginning of the fall of the Golden Age of Athens. The enormous death toll from the plague weakened Athens, leading to its eventual defeat in the war against Sparta. So far, the cause of this plague is unknown, but its symptoms are well described. Thucydides himself suffered from the plague, but fortunately, he survived. Many assumptions have been made about the disease responsible. In this article, the possible explanations will be discussed, hoping to shed light on that historical mystery. A metric system was created to help estimate the possibility of each of the 17 proposed diseases being the actual reason behind the deadly plague. Out of all the presented diseases, typhoid fever seems to fit most of the criteria, thus being considered the most possible causative agent. Other scenarios are also discussed.
U kontekstu recentne pandemije koronavirusom htjeli smo istaknuti važnost cijepljenja kao jedno od najvećih medicinskih dostignuća i najučinkovitiju preventivnu mjeru u zaštiti populacije od zaraznih bolesti. O tome je prije više od dvjesto godina s ponosom i oduševljenjem pisao dubrovački pionir cijepljenja Luko Stulli, jedan od najpoznatijih liječnika u Dubrovniku početkom 19. stoljeća. Neposredno nakon otkrića vakcinacije i pod dojmom nove liječničke metode, napisao je 1804. latinsku poemu Vaccinatio, carmen elegiacum (Vakcinacija, elegijska pjesma). Riječ je vjerojatno o jednoj od rijetkih pjesama posvećenoj medicinskoj temi u hrvatskoj književnosti i jednoj od posljednjih pisanih na latinskom jeziku. Do sada su bila pronađena tri originalna tiskana primjerka, a nedavno je pronađen i četvrti primjerak tiskan 1828. Recentna događanja vezana uz pandemiju COVID-19 ponovno su pobudila i usmjerila zanimanje na Stullijevu Elegiju, stavila u fokus rasprave i mišljenja o cijepljenju i karanteni te iznova potvrdila vrijednost i univerzalnost Stullijevih stavova i poruka iskazanih u ovoj latinskoj poemi u duhu klasicističke poetike i kanona. Prošlo je točno 220 godina od tiskanja Elegije, a sumnje u vrijednosti i korisnost znanstvenih otkrića nisu nestale, kao ni nepovjerenje u medicinsku znanost i cijepljene kao civilizacijski doseg.
The historical examination of pediatric surgery in the 19th century, particularly through the cases managed by Theodoros Aretaios (1829–1893), underscores the complexities and challenges faced by surgeons of that era. Aretaios’s experiences with conditions such as atresia and osteosarcoma reveal a lack of specialization in pediatric surgery, as procedures were often adapted from adult practices without fully addressing the unique needs of children. His documentation highlights not only the medical difficulties but also the social implications of treating life-threatening conditions in young patients, emphasizing the evolution of surgical practices and the necessity for a more child-centered approach in modern medicine. This paper aims to shed light on the development of pediatric surgical care, illustrating how historical practices inform contemporary understandings and methodologies.
S obzirom na nužnost i važnost medicine u svakodnevnome životu, nije čudno što medicinsku literaturu na hrvatskome jeziku pratimo već nekoliko stoljeća. Do danas je većim brojem radova dan pregled povijesti medicinske literature na hrvatskome jeziku, mahom leksikografskih radova, enciklopedistike i publicistike. Unatoč tomu, hrvatska medicinska udžbenička i priručnička literatura 19. stoljeća rjeđe je sustavno proučavana kao zasebna cjelina. Devetnaesto je stoljeće u povijesti hrvatske znanstvene i kulturne produkcije iznimno važno: obilježeno je intenziviranjem rada na standardizaciji hrvatskoga jezika, jačanjem znanstvene terminologije te prosvjetiteljskim idejama da se znanost na hrvatskome jeziku približi javnosti. Djela nastala u tom razdoblju svjedoče o razvoju medicine na hrvatskome prostoru i vrijedan su izvor za proučavanje povijesti hrvatskoga znanstvenog i stručnog nazivlja, kao i znanstvenoga stila. Cilj je ovoga rada dati pregled odabranih hrvatskih medicinskih udžbenika i priručnika nastalih u 19. stoljeću, popisati ih te ukratko opisati njihovu strukturu, sadržaj i namjenu. Takvim se pristupom nastoji pridonijeti dopunjavanju postojećih pregleda starije hrvatske medicinske literature i ukazati na važnost tih djela za interdisciplinarna istraživanja.
Prve vijesti o ljekarni u Cresu datiraju iz 15. stoljeća. Još 1431. creski se gradonačelnik bavio pitanjem nabave lijekova, a od kraja stoljeća do modernoga doba zapisnici creskog Općinskog vijeća vrve od vijesti o dobivanju ljekarničkih licenci, kao i plaćama i prijeporima ljekarnika. Dugo vremena ljekarnicima su bili doseljenici iz Istre i Italije, koji bi u Cresu ostajali kraće ili duže vrijeme, da bi se od 19. stoljeća ljekarništvo skrasilo u rukama obitelji Colombis i Rossi. Nakon Drugoga svjetskoga rata Ljekarna Cres postala je dijelom riječke tvrtke Ljekarna Jadran.Analizirajući desetine izvora i literaturnih jedinica, ovaj prilog nastoji osvijetliti bogatu, nedovoljno istraženu i premalo poznatu povijest jedne profesije koja paralelno razotkriva ne manje zanimljive fragmente creske svakodnevice i kulture.
The first official case of HIV infection in Portugal was confirmed in 1983. Faced with the threat of a global epidemic caused by an unknown virus, Portugal responded to the WHO’s call in 1985 by establishing institutions with the aim of supporting state decisions, conducting epidemiological studies, controlling the spread of the virus, diagnosing cases, disseminating information, and educating the population. Portugal has come a long way from initially denying the existence of the disease and refusing to disclose the positive result to patients. The serious case of infecting haemophiliacs with a batch of Factor VIII imported from an Austrian laboratory, resulting in the deaths of dozens of patients, forced the Portuguese public health authorities to create organisations able to face the fight against AIDS. By trying to control the serious drug addiction problem after the Portuguese revolution of April 1974, the conservative society was able to change its attitude and pass groundbreaking legislation worldwide and implement a successful programme to control AIDS infection among injecting drug users.Issues such as the effectiveness of these measures in controlling the AIDS epidemic and their impact on Portuguese society at the end of the 20th century will be addressed in this paper.
Drevni Egipat podrazumijeva područje uz rijeku Nil na kojemu se razvila staroegipatska civilizacija. Kao državna tvorevina, Egipat je bio mjesto mnogih prvijenaca, od arhitekture, umjetnosti, ekonomije, ali i znanosti. S vremenom se u svećeničkom staležu u Egiptu počinju javljati svećenici koji svoj život posvećuju različitim znanostima, ponajprije astronomiji, astrologiji, ali i medicini. Upravo će medicina biti u središtu pozornosti ovoga rada te će se pritom pobliže predstaviti dijagnoze te metode i načini liječenja fraktura kostiju. Unatoč činjenici da će se u radu govoriti o izrazito starim povijesnim razdobljima, izvore za ovu temu može se pronaći na drevnim egipatskim papirusima koji su preživjeli do današnjih dana. Zbog toga treba istaknuti Papirus Edwina Smitha koji je svojedobna riznica o medicinskoj znanosti drevnog Egipta. Također, pošto je egipatska religija bila izrazito snažno ukorijenjena u čitavo egipatsko društvo, ne treba se čuditi što se brojni medicinski postupci i lijekovi mogu pronaći u magičnim tekstovima/inkantacijama koje bi drevni svećenici izgovarali tijekom liječenja pacijenta. Ovaj će rad isprva ukratko predstaviti egipatsku medicinu općenito, zatim njezinu usku vezu s religijom i magijom te konačno dijagnostiku, metode i zahvate pomoću kojih bi drevni liječnici tretirali frakture kostiju svojih pacijenata na temelju Papirusa Edwin Smitha
In the second half of the 18th century, a new awareness in education started to rise, placing greater importance on veterinary science. We are talking about a hundred years of history. Antonio Campana and Tommaso Bonaccioli, grandsons of Barbara Campana, were the creators of the Veterinary School of Ferrara in their own right. Among the teachers, we especially remember the first, Luigi Le Roy of the Lyon school. This Veterinary School, founded in 1762, was the place to train teachers for the upcoming schools around Europe. Antonio Campana was an eclectic scientist who also stood out in this discipline. Tommaso Bonaccioli, who studied at the School of Milan during the Napoleonic era, was highly regarded among foreign researchers for being a pioneer in this field. This can be proven by numerous publications and lectures at the Academy of Sciences in Ferrara, where he also served as president. His collaborators were able to keep the highest standards by continuing the founder’s work. Unfortunately, despite the appreciation of the students, the Veterinary School of Ferrara was closed in 1880 due to a lack of funding. The search for unpublished original documentation was conducted in the Historical Archives (Municipal, Ariostea Municipal Library, Academy of Sciences and University of Ferrara).
U radu je prikazan razvoj psihijatrijske misli tijekom dugoga devetnaestog stoljeća u Europi i Hrvatskoj, pri čemu se detaljnije prikazao razvoj klasifikacije poremećaja ličnosti. Ta je dijagnostička kategorija na granici psihički zdravog i bolesnog, što najzornije otvara suštinska pitanja u psihijatrijskoj znanosti. Ta su pitanja bila i ostala predmetom znanstvenih istraživanja u psihijatriji, a svoje temelje i zamah dobili su u dugom devetnaestom stoljeću, što se ogleda u plodonosnoj aktivnosti velikoga broja onodonih liječnika i znanstvenika od Francuske, Engleske preko Italije do Austrije i Njemačke. U radu je prikazan I doprinos hrvatskih liječnika, poglavito dr. Ive Žirovčića kao dugogodišnjeg ravnatelja prve psihijatrijske bolnice u Hrvatskoj, u postavljanju temelja hrvatske psihijatrije čiji je zakašnjeli razvoj uvelike ubrzan otvaranjem Zavoda za umobolne u Stenjevcu, današnje Klinike za psihijatriju Vrapče.
In the context of the recent coronavirus pandemic, we wanted to highlight the importance of vaccination as one of the greatest medical achievements and the most effective preventive measure for protecting the population from infectious diseases. Over 200 years ago, the pioneer of vaccination in Dubrovnik, Luko Stulli, one of the most renowned physicians of the early 19th century, proudly and enthusiastically wrote about it. Immediately after the discovery of vaccination and inspired by this new medical method, he wrote a Latin poem in 1804 titled “Vaccinatio, carmen elegiacum” (Vaccination, an elegiac poem). This is probably one of the few poems in Croatian literature dedicated to a medical theme, and one of the last written in Latin. So far, three original printed copies have been found, and recently a fourth, printed in 1828, was discovered. Recent events related to the COVID-19 pandemic have once again sparked interest in Stulli’s Elegy, brought it into focus in discussions of vaccination and quarantine, and reaffirmed the value and universality of the views and messages expressed in this Latin poem, written in the spirit of classical poetics and the canon. Exactly 220 years have passed since the printing of the Elegy, yet doubts about the value and usefulness of scientific discoveries have not disappeared, nor has the distrust in medical science and vaccination as a civilizational achievement.
The term sepsis is deeply rooted in modern medicine, yet the concept itself dates back far into history. For centuries, it has served as an inspiration across various art forms, which have faithfully depicted its severity, the accompanying fear, and its high mortality rate. Despite vastly different lifestyles, humanity has endured sepsis for thousands of years. Initially, it was viewed as an inevitable and incurable outcome of serious diseases. This perspective shifted significantly in the 20th century due to exponential advancements in diagnostic methods and therapies. Historically low public and professional awareness allowed sepsis to remain a "silent killer" for a long time. While modern medicine now employs vario us measures to prevent and treat infections, microorganisms continue to adapt alongside humans. Through simple genetic changes, they have developed significant antibiotic resistance, which is one of the leading challenges in contemporary medicine. This paper outlines significant milestones in the history of septic conditions and the evolution toward the post-antibiotic era. Rapid progress in diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities offers new insights into the nature of sepsis; however, in practice, these advancements often provide little benefit for the afflicted. A comprehensive examination of the past could help uncover answers to the questions that still surround this condition.
Recognizing the crucial role of medicine in everyday life, it is unsurprising that medical literature in the Croatian language has been produced and studied for several centuries. To date, numerous studies have provided an overview of the history of Croatian medical literature, primarily focusing on lexicographical works, encyclopedias, and publications. Nevertheless, Croatian medical textbooks and manuals from the 19th century have been less systematically examined as a distinct corpus. This period is particularly significant in the history of Croatian scientific and cultural production: it was marked by intensified efforts to standardize the Croatian language, the development of scientific terminology, and Enlightenment-inspired initiatives aimed at making scientific knowledge accessible to the Croatian public in their native language. Works produced during this period bear witness to the development of medicine in the Croatian context and represent a valuable source for studying the history of Croatian scientific and professional terminology, as well as scientific style. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of selected Croatian medical textbooks and manuals from the 19th century, listing them and briefly describing their structure, content, and intended use. By doing so, the study seeks to supplement existing overviews of older Croatian medical literature and to highlight the significance of these works for interdisciplinary research, encompassing medical history, linguistic studies, and the broader cultural context of 19th-century Croatia.
The ancient Greek historian Thucydides described in his book "History of the Peloponnesian War" one of the earliest epidemics in known human history, the "Plague of Athens". The plague, which lasted from 430-426 B.C., had a death toll estimated at around 75,000 - 100,000. The importance of the plague was immense. Pericles, the historical leader of Athens, was among its victims, and his death was just the beginning of the fall of the Golden Age of Athens. The enormous death toll from the plague weakened Athens, leading to its eventual defeat in the war against Sparta. So far, the cause of this plague is unknown, but its symptoms are well described. Thucydides himself suffered from the plague, but fortunately, he survived. Many assumptions have been made about the disease responsible. In this article, the possible explanations will be discussed, hoping to shed light on that historical mystery. A metric system was created to help estimate the possibility of each of the 17 proposed diseases being the actual reason behind the deadly plague. Out of all the presented diseases, typhoid fever seems to fit most of the criteria, thus being considered the most possible causative agent. Other scenarios are also discussed.
The historical examination of pediatric surgery in the 19th century, particularly through the cases managed by Theodoros Aretaios (1829-1893), underscores the complexities and challenges faced by surgeons of that era. Aretaios's experiences with conditions such as atresia and osteosarcoma reveal a lack of specialization in pediatric surgery, as procedures were often adapted from adult practices without fully addressing the unique needs of children. His documentation highlights not only the medical difficulties but also the social implications of treating life-threatening conditions in young patients, emphasizing the evolution of surgical practices and the necessity for a more child-centered approach in modern medicine. This paper aims to shed light on the development of pediatric surgical care, illustrating how historical practices inform contemporary understandings and methodologies.
In the early modern period, dietary practice was widely understood through humoral theory, which held that health depended on maintaining balance among the four bodily humours. This article examines dietary advice for individuals identified as choleric, characterized by an excess of yellow bile associated with heat and dryness, within sixteenth- and seventeenth-century medical thought. Building on previous studies of humoral balance and the melancholic constitution, the article explores how physicians and health writers adapted classical and medieval dietetic principles to manage the heat and dryness characteristic of choler. Drawing on English popular health manuals and herbals, the article outlines explicit dietary prescriptions formulated within a Galenic framework to temper physiological and emotional excess. The study also considers how these medical recommendations intersect with contemporary culinary practice through an analysis of printed English cookbooks. While medical texts articulated overtly therapeutic dietary regimes, culinary sources rarely framed recipes in medical terms. Nevertheless, many recipes produced forms of balance that aligned with humoral expectations. The article argues that this convergence reflects a shared cultural logic of moderation, shaped by the long transmission of Hippocratic and Galenic dietetic ideas, rather than deliberate medical intent in cooking.
The article examines the issue of people suffering from sexually transmitted diseases during the First World War, based on the archival material from Dubrovnik hospital found in the State Archives’ “Hospital – unsettled material” fund. In the 19th century, Dubrovnik society blamed the existence of non-institutionalized prostitution for the high increase in individuals suffering from venereal diseases. The emergence of brothels was intended to lead to disease control. At the beginning of the First World War, with the number of soldiers increasing and the proximity to the Montenegrin battlefield, there was a rise in the incidence of venereal diseases. The significance of sexually transmitted diseases in war conditions is particularly important and affects the results of the war conflict. Therefore, the military authorities try to control the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases with various preventive measures. Syphilis and gonorrhea stand out among sexually transmitted diseases. Hospital capacities were not sufficient for all syphilis patients, and occasionally the hospital blocked the admission of patients.
This paper presents the public health work of DrAvelin Roblek (1845-1889) through his professional path as a city physician in Bjelovar and Ljubljana, within the framework of medicine in our region at the end of the 19th century. Dr Roblekgraduated from the medical faculty in Graz in 1874, after which he worked in Ljubljana and for three years in Litija. From 1882 to 1888, he served as the city physician and primary physician of the county hospital in Bjelovar and then, until his untimely death, the city physician in Ljubljana. The functions of the city physician in the second half of the 19th century in the then Austrian Empire were mostly public health: anti-epidemic measures, vaccinations, examinations and sanitary inspections of living conditions, control of prostitutes, coroners, and forensic autopsies, and control of the work of midwives and coroners. Dr Roblek regularly reported on the functions and the measures he implemented to the city magistrates in Bjelovar and Ljubljana. He died in Ljubljana after contractinga disease while performing his work as a physician.
