[Scurvy-A now forgotten previously widespread disease].

From the sea voyages of the fifteenth century often lasting for years with provisions only of fish, salted meat and biscuits reports came of fatal health alterations of the seamen which were characterized by prostration, loss of teeth and bad breath.Reports on comparable endemic illnesses soon came from the Netherlands, North Germany, the Baltic area, France, Lorraine, Geneva, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Swabia and Russia: the so-called land scurvy. The first medical specification was found in a letter from 1541 by Johann Echt to colleges in the area of Lower Germany, which was published four times.

[Ergotism-a weed from Mesopotamia became an epidemic pathogen in Europe].

In Mesopotamian wheat fields rye grew as weed and after certain developments rye reached Europe and there became a cultivable plant and the dominant grain in certain regions. With the rye also its parasite, the Claviceps purpurea, reached Europe. This ascomycete infects particular rye grains and in its developmental cycle grows to sclerotia bigger than each grain.

[Pellagra-originally described in the Austrian Empire 250 years ago became a fatal endemic in some provinces].

Pellagra is characterized by "dermatitis - diarrhea - dementia - death". Various causes were discussed over the course of two centuries. The initial presumption was that the sun caused changes in exposed areas of the body.

[The development of the Austrian medical system-250 years ago the "Sanitäts-Hauptnormativ", 150 years ago the "Reichs-Sanitätsgesetz"].

The first regulations of the healthcare system in the domains and cities of the German Empire were the infection and plague regulations issued in many places from the sixteenth century onwards; however, as early as 1348 the Venetian state formed precise state structures to combat the black death that had broken out in Europe at the time. These were taken over analogously and in part in the Austrian states. Defense measures against the plague became particularly important on the k.