[Sanitary conditions, medical care and epidemiology situation of infectious diseases in Lvov in the period of Galicia autonomy (from the years 60ties/70ties of 19th century to the year 1914)]

Abstract

Galicia autonomy received at the turn of the 60s and 70s of the XIX century contributed to the formation of organizational basis for activities in favour of improvement of health in the country, including the biggest city of Austrian partition--Lvov. In this city until the World War I outbreak intensive works concerning construction of sewage and water supply systems were performed, what beneficially affected the sanitary conditions in some districts. At the same time despite strenuous efforts, the attempts to provide cobbled permanent surfaces of the majority of roads were unsuccessful. Serious concerns were expressed in relation to living conditions of the Lvov working class. In the situation, the municipal self-governing health service, developed in 1872, with a few district sanitary physicians (7 in 1914) was not able to significantly decrease the incidence of infectious diseases and disease-related mortality rate, however some improvement in this issue was observed. Among the most dangerous diseases predominated tuberculosis, followed by scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles and whooping cough, typhoid fever and dysentery. At the beginning of the XX century the health service managed to eliminate smallpox due to implementation of annual vaccination of infants.