Początki prasy medycznej w Polsce

Początki prasy medycznej w Polsce

The beginnings of the medical press in Poland

Danuta Hombek

This article discusses the initial ediotorial achievements of Polish press in the realm of medicine registered in pre-partition Rzeczypospolita of mid18th century. Although the first of them know as „Primitiae Physico-Medicae” has its own bibliography, its content was successfully supplemented with certain facts concerning the editorial and formal side of the magazine. However, the remaining two achievements of 18th century-editors are hardly mentioned even in the specialist medical literature, let alone other general studies in the history of science. It appears though that both schemes, the one being only partially covered and the other not exceeding the project, deserve equal attention. The former scheme dating back to 1792 and coming from Grodno, whose editor was to be „the Doctor of Physic and Surgerye” yet unfamiliar de Neyen, fell through despite being addressed to a wide circle of recipients and disregarding its well-announced attractive subscription offer.

The final 18th-century attempt to bring the medical paper into existence was made by those of Warsaw environment. And in 1795 the one from beyond the medical circle, the printer and editor Tadeusz Poldlecki, only partially realised yet another medical enterprise. This was just the case when the editor announced subscription to the popular weekly periodical entitled „Medical Practice” („Praktyka Lekarska”) and repeatedly advertised it in the newspaper entitled „Warsaw and Foreign Correspondent” („Korespondent Warszawski i Zagraniczny”). But that advertising was of little benefit since the publication of the magazine finally came to an end as following the edition of its only and half-abridged first volume.
The discussed medical papers that were first recorded in Poland did not receive wide recognition of the readers of the time, being still insufficiently prepared to enjoy professional medical writings.

Z archiwów, bibliotek i muzeów

pl