Original scientific paper
Johannes Antonius Scopoll and his work in the field of occupational health
I. Pintar
; Institute for History of Medicine, Medical Faculty, Ljubljana
Abstract
Johannes Antonius Scopoll and his work in the field of occupational health. Scopoli (1723-1788) is mostly known as botanist, entomologisl and mineralogist. Only one of his works deals with a medical subject: De morbis fossorum hydrargyri (On occupational diseases of miners in Idria). In this work Scopoli describes two forms of mercurialism - the cronic with tremor and subacute with salivation. He classifies as occupational diseases some diseases which are quite common among miners and rare or absent among the rest of the population. Tussis and asthma (most probably tuberculosis) are also mentioned. Inspiration of dust is supposed to be the factor causing disease. Febris inter mittens according to the described symptoms most probably leptospirosis is also mentioned. Scopoli classifies disentery and vermes (ascaris) also as occupational diseases of miners. He recomends also some therapeutic measures. Scopoli describes prevention as a more useful measure than therapy. At the first signs of the disease an isolation from the unhealthy surrounding is to be recommended and an improvement of social and economic conditions necessary. The mining board of that time had no understanding for his occupational hygiene recommendations.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
186665
URI
Publication date:
25.10.1954.
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