[Vilnius Medical Association: the first half-century (1805-1850)]

Vilnius Medical Association, oldest scientific medical association in Poland and in the Russian Empire, was founded for the purposes of self-development in 1805 on the initiative of an Austrian professor of pathology and detailed therapy, Józef Frank (1771-1842). From its beginnings, the association acted for the good of society and science, independently of political conditions and with varying intensity. Apart from doctors, it also included pharmacists who contributed towards raising the standard of pharmacy in Lithuania. The first half-century of its existence constitutes the most fruitful period of activity as it was supported by professors of the then Medical Department of Vilnius University. At that time the Association established its regulations, founded the Library, and published "Pamietnik Wileńskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego" (Journal of Vilnius Medical Association, 1818 and 1821), "Pamietnik Farmaceutyczny" (Pharmaceutical Journal, 1820 and 1821), "Dziennik Medycyny Chirurgii i Farmacji" (Journal of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, 1820, 1823, and 1830), as well as "Collectanea Medico Chirurgica", 1838. It also began gathering and analysing data for medical statistics, as well as developing Polish medical and chemical nomenclature. The Association re-organised shipments of medicines from pharmacies. It endeavoured to raise the standard of medical knowledge in the Vilnius area, combated epidemics of plague, cholera, scarlet fever, smallpox, typhus, diphteria, dysentery and monitored occurrences of plica. It also established the first Institute of Vaccination against Smallpox in Vilnius (1809); carried out scientific research on health resorts at Druskienniki, Birsztany and Stokliszki; promoted hygiene and examined the health of the inhabitants of Vilnius and the surrounding area as well as endorsed authority decisions related to the location of temporary military hospitals. At its meetings, members of the Association discussed their own medical cases as well as methods of treatment, presented the most recent reports in the medical literature, combated obsolete theories and scientific systems and established cooperation with other scientific associations in the country as well as abroad. World famous scientists were also members of the Vilnius Medical Association.