History of Dermatology and Venereology in Serbia - Part I: Medieval Dermatovenereology / Istorija Dermatovenerologije U Srbiji - I Deo: Srednjovekovna Dermatovenerologija

Medieval medicine in Serbia used to be the scientific medicine of that time. It included dermatology and venereology, which developed into an independent discipline in the second half of the 19th century. The most relevant sources for studying dermatology and venereology are Serbian medieval medical and therapeutic codices. The terms used in the manuscripts report about the diseases people in Serbia suffered from and were treated for in the Middle Ages. The following diseases were reported: scabies, leprosy, fungal scalp infections, as well as psoriasis, crusts (pyococcal ulcers), granulation, baldness, excessive body hair, leg wounds and old wounds, facial spots, unspecified skin diseases, urethritis and syphilis. Special attention was also given to cosmetics. Topical remedies were applied - various herbs, sulphur, mercury, tar, pyrethrum, plasters, ground glass, auripigment - in the form of a powder, liniment, ointment or plaster.