ZDRAVSTVENA PREVENTIVA, ZDRAVLJENJE IN ZAZNAVE ZDRAVEGA ŽIVLJENJA MED KRANJSKIM PLEMSTVOM SREDI 18. STOLETJA.

The article presents perceptions of health and life patterns which were placed among the Carniolan elites until the middle of the 18th century in terms of physical and mental well-being, as well as health prevention and cure. The article is mainly based on numerous mentions of illness and treatments in the diaries of the baron Franz Heinrich of Raigersfeld (1697–1760), but similar patterns can be found among all nobility. His records are also a source for studying culture and attitudes towards health in the provincial environments of Trieste, Gorizia and Ljubljana in the first period of Theresian modernization in the Habsburg territories. In Carniola, health care improved rapidly even before the reforms. Authorities have raised health concerns to the top of the priorities. The number of doctors, surgeons and pharmacists has increased. Improvements were first enforced in the provincial centers, but till the end of the 19th century not in all strata of the population. So far, the state has interfered mainly with orders and prohibitions, while the organization of public health and education were still far behind. The Raigersfeld’s family has kept pace with the times with most cultural innovations, including health care. She followed the modern thesis that the disease is largely caused by unhygienic life. Every physical activity was recognized as important for health, but they did not yet think about intensive recreation. Raigersfeld’s notes, however, are sparing with words on nutrition. However, in medical theory and in everyday life, moderation in diet played an important role and a rational and modest diet has long been recommended by local doctors. Elites understood these warnings, but they were often not followed even by chronic patients. Although descriptions of dishes are lacking, it is obvious that in the 18th century, provincial elites were still getting on the table unhealthily large amounts of protein and fat, which certainly led to chronic diseases. The low-calorie and low-fat diet enjoyed by the burgeois and the lower classes was not in the forefront even among the Raigersfelds. Local elites provided themselves with the best doctors and surgeons, depending on their financial capabilities. The city physicians had a lucrative business with the treatment of the nobility. Many of them became rich and established friendly relations with patients, making the bond between the attending physician and the patient closer than it should have been. Especially when, as specialists for them they produced forensic medical examinations and thus navigated between diagnoses and the expectations of the parties in order to maintain their own credibility for the force. The members of the elites had relatively clear ideas about the symptoms and tr eatment of some of the most common diseases. Ther e were frequent cases of mental illness and disorders, as well as chronic diseases (gout, sciatic etc.), death due to severe lung and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. It was fashionable to seek help in domestic and foreign health resorts (Padua). Their treatment in the middle of the 18th century is described by Raigersfeld himself with detailed descriptions of his wife’s death (1752) and his life’s decline (1759/1760). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]