SAINT-PETERSBURG DOCTORS’ EXPEDITION TO THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF EASTERN SIBERIA TO FIGHT AGAINST THE EPIDEMICS OF SYPHILIS AND LEPROSY IN THE XIX CENTURY

The health policy for the incorporated northeastern outskirts of the Russian Empire was aimed at and contributed to preserving and increasing the amount of the population. The unfavorable situation caused by the spread of syphilis that had developed practically on the entire Eurasian continent spread to the northern and eastern territories of Eastern Siberia. The article studies the activities of the Irkutsk provincial administration and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire concerning complex measures taken to stop the spread of syphilis and leprosy in the northeastern districts in the 19th century. The role of the authorities in resolving the issue of the Petersburg medical officials’ expedition to eliminate the epidemic of syphilis and leprosy is shown. The problems of calculating travel costs, travel allowances and salaries for doctors depending on “the rank” are highlighted. The doctors’ activity focused on the choice and establishing of syphilitic hospitals, the volume of medical care for patients and treatment outcomes is studied. The correspondence and interaction of the Irkutsk medical council, the Irkutsk governor -general with the authorities of the northeastern outskirts for the provision of medicines, equipment and food supplies to syphilitic hospitals are additionally studied. The contribution of the medical expedition to the fight against the epidemic is shown. It is noted that the professional activity of doctors allowed the decrease of the incidence of syphilis among the population, but the total elimination of the epidemic failed. It was found that the living conditions of the indigenous population, hygiene habits, severe climate, and poor diet contributed to the prevalence of syphilis. The conditions of doctors’ return from Yakutsk, Kamchatka, Primorye to St. Petersburg, travel and salary payments at the end of the medical expedition were studied. The study was based on archival documents.