[The Journal of Slavonian Physicians (Glasnik druztva Slavonskih Liecnika), the journal of the medical society in Croatia 1877-1878].

If we discuss chronological appearance of medical journals as official gazettes of medical associations in this part of the world and Europe, then Glasnik druztva slavonskih liecnika (Glasnik DSL) is the first and the oldest medical journal of this kind in Croatia, whose first number is dated January 1, 1877, and the last December 1, 1878. It is the gazette of the Slavonian Medical Association in Osiek (DSL in Osiek), a professional medical association founded in 1874, which today marks its activity as the Croatian Medical Association--Osijek Branch (HLZ). Our goal was to investigate the key determinants of its appearance in the context of the role and contribution of Slavonian physicians in the promotion and development of Croatian medical literature, particularly medical periodicals in the 19th century. The conclusions we reached are based on the knowledge acquired during previous investigations on the history of medical associations and development of professional medical periodicals in Croatia and Slavonia in the 19th century, and on the historical material and preserved documentation of DSL in Osiek, HLZ in Zagreb, and Glasnik DSL from the beginning of 1874 through 1878. Basic determinants of the appearance and relatively short duration of the monthly periodical Glasnik DSL are highlighted, with the emphasis on: 1) events preceding its publication, including initiatives of physicians in Slavonia for the development of Croatian medical terminology, professional medical publications, particularly medical journals from the middle of the 19th century through 1876; 2) circumstances accompanying the publication of the journal Glasnik DSL in the period from January 1, 1877 through 1878; 3) events contributing to making decision on discontinuation of its publishing. The results are presented in several separate chapters which offer new scientific knowledge about the history of the medical Journal Glasnik DSL, and about the role of Slavonian physicians and DSL in Osiek in the promotion of Croatian medical terminology and the development of professional medical literature from the middle of the 19th century through 1878. In Glasnik DSL we today recognize our first medical periodical as the oldest scientific and professional gazette of the medical association; the unique source and material for studying the history of Croatian medical journals; history of medical associations; health-related circumstances, conditions of work and striving of physician, and professional and scientific scopes in Croatia in the 19th century. Each number is by itself a value and a bibilographic rarity, all numbers together represent a unique monument to Croatian medical heritage, whose availability for the new generations is facilitated by publishing the reprint issue in 1999.