Health culture of the Central Volga area population in the XIX century

Abstract

The following paper considers the health culture of the Central Volga area population in the 19th century and its influence on the region economy. The authors compare necessary medical assistance at the beginning and at the end of the century and using various sources including the archival ones come to the conclusion that the state didnt pay much attention to the organization of health care in the region economy at the beginning of the 19th century: lack of health culture which could include the necessary number of medical institutions, lack of professionally trained medical staff, rules and recommendations about a healthy lifestyle. However by the end of the century the situation had undergone positive changes - there were medical institutions with beds and rooms available enough for patients, there were charity societies with medical care for people in need; the state spent money to ensure personnel functioning and hospital equipment, as well as injections that were free for the population. At the end of the 19th century the health culture of the population became an integral part of Central Volga area economy and the country in general. It increased the standard of life as well as its quality.