Measures of the Russian Authorities to Develop Health Care in the North-West Caucasus in the 20-30s of the 19th Century

The measures taken by Russian authorities to solve epidemic problems in the North-West Caucasus in the 1820s-1830s are considered. The landscape and climate features of the region, the difficulties of acclimatization of the personnel of the Russian Army, and the unstable military and political situation hindered the development of healthcare in this territory. The losses of the Russian Army personnel from diseases were greater than on the battlefields. To overcome the difficulties that arose, the authorities took a set of measures aimed at creating medical institutions, pharmacies, and a quarantine system. Methods for disease prevention were developed and implemented. First of all, attention was paid to sanitary and hygienic procedures, nutrition appropriate to the needs of a weakened organism, introduction of clothing and footwear suitable for the local climate. An extensive network of quarantine outposts was created to prevent the spread of epidemics. Doctors were sent to the region to provide assistance to those in need, regardless of their nationality. All this made it possible, if not to completely normalize the epidemiological situation, then to significantly reduce the risk of the spread of virulent diseases.