Die Geschichte der Staatsarzneikunde, Hygiene, Medizinischen Mikrobiologie, Sozialmedizin und Tierseuchenlehre in Österreich und ihrer Vertreter

The development of the modern hygiene in all Crown Countries of the Austrian monarchy and thereafter in the Republic of Austria is stated in detail. Originally the dietetics which cared for the personal health of the individual were in the foreground of interest. Hence in the Medico-surgical Schools of the k. k. (imperial-royal) lyceums of this time dietetics, means of succour of individuals in sudden mortal danger and for economic reasons also epizootology (animal epidemiology) primarily were taught. But in the military medicine in the outgoing 18th century and the State Medicine and Medical Police of the beginning 19th century the main considerations shifted to the interest of the state which urged healthy and fit subjects. Only in the second half of the 19th century the then developing hygiene brought a turn back to the primacy of the individual health. In the Josephinum in Vienna and the universities in Vienna and Prague and subsequently in the universities in Cracow, Lvov and Cluj the hygiene originated in the State Medicine and Medical Police. The Medical Microbiology on the other side was developed as well in the laboratories of the hygienists as in those of the pathologists. In two special chapters – the history of the water supply of Vienna and of small pox vaccination in Austria – the difficulties of precautions for Public Health are explained. In six years of investigations in archives and libraries and by personal communications the author reconstructed the academic life and work of more than 470 scientists. Their names and the key-words are traceable in extensive indices.