ABSTRACT
The discovery of pathogenic microorganisms in the mid 19th century made possible an effective prophylaxis on a scientific basis. During many centuries, sequestration of leprous in specific dwellings was the custom; in the hindsight it proved to be instrumental for the almost complete disappearance of leprosy in Europe. This was also the case with the epidemics of plague, which, since the late Middle Ages, were stopped by measures of quarantine in ports and at frontier passages (e.g. Austrian plague-cordon). The beginning of internationally coordinated health measures was equally decisive. With smallpox, the variolation (since 1730) gave first relief, until Sir Edward Jenner discovered in 1798 the highly successful cross-immunity through vaccination. The development of sanitary conditions through better drinking-water supply, canalization and garbage disposal since the mid 19th century contributed much to the betterment of health, especially concerning cholera epidemics in cities. The reinforcement of the individual hygiene (body care, extermination of lice, antiseptic treatment of wounds, etc.) helped to achieve an adequate prevention and, together with intensified health education, a decline of infectious diseases in general.
Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control/history , Disease Outbreaks/history , Vaccination/history , History, 16th Century , History, 17th Century , History, 18th Century , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , History, Ancient , History, Medieval , HumansABSTRACT
Alcoholic beverages have been produced already in a remote past. The recipe for distillated wine dates about 1100 A.D. Up to 1990 and longer, wine and alcoholic spirits were taken as an universal medicine. Alcohol has, moreover, socially integrative elements. Individual problems of alcohol abuse are as old as the production, but have become an epidemic problem with the pauperisation of the industrial proletarians in the 18th and 19th century, where private and government actions have been taken.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Alcoholic Beverages/history , Alcoholism/history , History, 15th Century , History, 16th Century , History, 17th Century , History, 18th Century , History, 19th Century , History, Ancient , History, Medieval , Humans , SwitzerlandABSTRACT
Théophile de Bordeu (1722-1776) published in 1764 a large Medical History. He used it for a discussion of the pros and contras of smallpox inoculation by giving the hypothetical opinions of ancient physicians who could not have known that new method. As he was at that time unjustifiedly involved in a theft-scandal, he used his book also for ridiculising his enemies among his colleagues.
Subject(s)
Historiography , Smallpox Vaccine/history , Smallpox/history , France , History, 18th Century , HumansSubject(s)
Pathology/history , France , History, 16th Century , History, 17th Century , History, 18th CenturySubject(s)
Language Development/history , Disease/classification , France , Germany , History, 19th CenturySubject(s)
Allergy and Immunology/history , Communicable Diseases/history , England , France , Germany , Greece , History, 15th Century , History, 16th Century , History, 17th Century , History, 18th Century , History, 19th Century , History, Ancient , History, Medieval , Humans , Immunization/history , Italy , Netherlands , RomeABSTRACT
Grain size and etching experiments show that the fine lunar material contains large amounts of trapped solar wind particles. Elemental and isotopic compositions of the noble gases in solar material and in the terrestrial atmosphere are significantly different, except for the Ar(36)/ Ar(38) and the Kr isotope ratios. Exposure ages of two rocks and of the fine material are between 380 and 510 x 10(6) years. Feldspar concentrates give K/Ar ages of 3220 and 3300 x 10(6) years, significantly higher than the unseparated rock.
