Presenting the various approaches that have so far been employed in the historical study of diseases, the author analyzes their characteristics, points to their limitations, and emphasizes their complementarity. In most cases historians restrict themselves to studying diseases separately, one by one, failing to bring to light reciprocal influences. After defining the concept of pathocenosis, the author examines some of the diseases prevalent in the pathocenoses of former days. He also describes the historical path taken in the conceptualization of diseases.

Communicable Diseases, Emerging↗

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[The role of risk in the genesis of scientific discoveries].

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Creativity↗

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[The Zagreb Etruscan ceremonial fragment and an ancient Egyptian medical papyrus].

The Archeological museum in Zagreb treasures the linen strips of an Egyptian mummy with inscriptions in Etruscan, and an Egyptian medical papyrus. The Etruscan text has been deciphered, but only a small part has been translated. This religious-magical ceremonial might be in relation with theurgical measures for health protection, promotion and restitution. The medical text on the papyrus is a hieratic script dating back to Pharaonic New Kingdom, probably a fragment of a medicine book similar to the Ebers papyrus. This article provides its transcription and translation. Three recipes for a powder and ointments which were used in the local treatment of inflammed moist skin lesions are presented.

Ceremonial Behavior↗