[Professor Stanislav Iosofatovich Zalesky - founder of hydrogeochemical and balneological study of natural resources of Siberia].

Stanislav Iosofatovich Zalesky - the first head of the Department of General Medical Chemistry of the Imperial Tomsk University (currently the Department of Chemistry of the Siberian State Medical University), a versatile scientist and public figure, acknowledged expert in medical, chemical, hydrogeological and balneological sciences. Professor S.I. Zalesky participated in the creation of health resorts of international importance In Russia and performed a great research and practice aimed at making the richest natural therapeutic factors of Siberia available for treatment. Investigation of the waters and muds of the Siberian region for a purpose of creating resorts for the health improvement of people is one of the most important aspects of his scientific activity. S.I. Zalesky developed a scientific approach to sampling and determination of the chemical composition of natural objects, the therapeutic effect of which he associated with the iron compounds contained in them. Professor S.I. Zalesky successfully combined the hard work in expeditions with teaching activities primarily in the Imperial Tomsk University, then in the Saint-Petersburg Women's Medical Institute as a professor in the Department of General, Analytical and Physiological Chemistry. Stanislav Iosofatovich was deeply involved in educational activities. He founded the «Samoobrazovanie» popular science magazine in 1901 and edited the «Recept» pharmaceutical journal since 1902. Russian translations of textbooks were published under his editorship. He compiled a number of popular books and brochures in the sphere of balneotherapy and hygiene in addition to «Samoobrazovanie», «Narodnoe zdorov'e», «Sputnik zdorov'ya» and separately. Tireless research, educational and public activities of the scientist, his scientific foresight have initiated the development of balneological health resorts in Siberia, Altai, Caucasus and Ukraine. The search and study of archival materials on the multi-faceted activity of professor S.I. Zalesky allowed to establish an invaluable contribution of the scientist in the development of health resorts of Russia.