Traditional methods for the treatment of animal diseases in Croatia.

Abstract

Traditional methods of treatment for animal diseases, particularly non-infectious diseases, occupy a special place in the history of the Croatian veterinary profession. The use of medicinal herbs in the treatment of various diseases has been described in a large number of publications. Folk medicine also frequently contains an element of magical practices, as well as the use of animal and plant matter and minerals. Dreckapotecke (so-called 'dirty' medicines and 'dirty' pharmacy) also formed part of healing practice in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the veterinary ljekarusas (collections of early medical texts), the best recommendations relate to surgical interventions; few instructions were given for the treatment of parasitic and internal ailments, even fewer for obstetrical problems and infectious diseases. In folk medicine, there existed some harmful treatment methods, and a number of indifferent medicaments were in use. In most cases, the value of the treatment applied was dubious. However, since the very beginning of the 'empirical' phase of the fight against disease, a number of relatively effective practices from folk medicine have been adapted and introduced into scientific medicinal praxis.