Zemsky hospitals in the 19th century. Opening of the first Zemsky hospitals

Until the middle of the 19th century , medicine was practically not developed in Russia , and only people belonging to the upper classes could receive at least some help. But everything began to change when, after 1864, zemstvo institutions appeared.

History of creation

In 1581, the first apothecary wards appeared in Moscow, which was the first step in the organization of the health care system. However, proper development did not happen, and only in the early 18th century, Peter I held a series of events, thanks to which medical institutions, pharmacies, schools and higher educational institutions began to open for the training of future doctors.

Later, when Alexander I was talking about the need to create hospitals in the county towns, but first you need to open a feldsher school. However, such measures did not radically change the situation, and only 0.5% of people could receive medical assistance. For 6000 people there was one doctor, on one bed there were 1500 inhabitants. All this would continue, if there were no zemstvo institutions, which at their expense began to organize zemstvo hospitals, dispensaries, maternity hospitals, etc.

Zemstvo institutions were assisted by citizens of all classes to improve the situation, and in each province the situation was different.

Zemstvo doctors

When zemstvo hospitals appeared in the 19th century (especially in rural areas), specialists were needed who could help in different directions, from colds to serious diseases.

Medicine in rural areas was developed first by county and city doctors, and then young specialists initially left for villages. There was a portrait of a Zemsky doctor who had high moral and ethical qualities, unselfishness and a desire to help all those in need, which had a good influence on the formation of future medicine.

Zemsky hospitals of the Moscow province

In 1869, zemstvo medicine was established in the province. When the congress of doctors was held in 1877, a project was developed to divide the province into six medical stations, where there were to be hospitals with staff, beds, a doctor, a medical assistant, a midwife.

Many believe that Zemstvo hospitals in the Moscow province were a model for other hospitals in other areas. The development of medicine was divided into two periods. In the first, from 1865 to 1876, there was a rapid growth in the financing of medical institutions, and the number of personnel increased. In the second, from 1877 to 1907, there was a development of medical infrastructure: medical congresses were held, institutes of sanitary doctors were created, and feldsher schools were opened.

The Moscow zemstvo was one of the first to provide free and generally accessible medical services. This helped to increase the effectiveness of prevention and control of epidemics, and also increased the growth of the peasants' appeal for help. But at the initial stages it was necessary to direct all energy to the creation of a primitive form of medical work. The best medical aid was organized in industrial districts such as Bogorodsky and Moscow, and worst of all, the situation was in the agrarian districts (Mozhaisky, Volokamsky).

Zemsky hospitals of Tver province

In 1867, the first Zemstvo hospital appeared in Tver, which became not only a place where people had to be treated, but also a center of social and cultural life.

In Tver, at a congress of doctors in 1871, it was felt that, before becoming a good doctor, it is necessary to study the situation in which the patients live. It is important to know what kind of hygienic conditions are, what conditions of life, because it will help in the work, the picture will be clearer than people get sick more often.

A special role in the development of medicine in the province was played by the doctor Mikhail Ilyich Petrunkevich who came to the city in 1874. He could skillfully combine his work and social activities in order to raise medicine to the highest level. The hospital bought new equipment for those times, books were bought from abroad, a library was created, which helped to learn from foreign specialists.

Hospitals in the Samara region

The opening of the first zemsky hospitals in the Samara region occurred in the second half of the 19th century, somewhere in the early 60s. Before that, only one hospital operated in the province, where there were only 12 beds for 20 thousand people, and treated here for all diseases not only ordinary citizens, but also the military and prisoners.

In 1865, on the outskirts of the city, the Zemstvo hospital was opened, which accepted everyone, regardless of class and nationality. At that time, there were 7 doctors, 26 paramedics, there were 360 beds. Thanks to the fact that several paramedic schools were opened, medicine began to develop more rapidly, and in 1899 Zemsky hospitals in rural areas were opened, there were about 70 of them.

By 1875 the main Provincial Hospital was opened, which in 1890 had 5 full-time residents and 9 supernumerary ones. The most important thing that happened at the end of the century - the poor began to be treated free of charge and given out drugs for free.

Achievements and results of zemstvo medicine

Through zemstvo medicine, assistance was rendered in 34 provinces, and such medicine played a progressive role in the development of the future. In addition, assistance was provided not only to urban residents, but also rural, and it was considered a big step in the health care system.

Thanks to the zemstvo medicine, such concepts as general availability, prevention, free help, and also appeared such institutions, which had not been thought of before - mud baths, medical-food stations, shelters.

In medicine, there were "progressive" doctors who knew a lot, could help in different directions, and also carried out research and studied diseases, so they opened bacteriological institutes and laboratories, a sanitary bureau, obstetric and paramedical schools.

Despite the fact that often zemsky hospitals lacked funds, equipment, drugs, the very emergence of medicine, where everyone, regardless of their status, could receive at least some help, initiated the development of medicine.