Gerard van Swieten, a Pioneer in the Field of Geriatrics

Abstract

Gerard van Swieten (1700–1772), a disciple of Herman Boerhaave (1668–1738), received from the Empress of Austria, Maria Theresia (1717–1780), a mandate to reform the medical faculty of the University of Vienna. In 1763 he held a ceremonious lecture about the possibilities to protect the health in the elderly. The author points out that after more than two centuries this ‘Oratio’ still contains some useful advices.