The original schedule of breastfeeding promotion in the Austro-Hungarian Empire medical literature in the Croatian language

Abstract

In line with the imperial law on public health enacted by the Austro-Hungarian Empress Maria Theresa in 1770, a number of positive modifi cations were introduced in the Empire countries including Croatia. Credit for this mostly goes to Lalangue John the Baptist, one of the greatest physicians then living and working in Croatia, whose activities in the second half of the 18th century signifi cantly improved the Croatian public health, especially midwifery. Lalangue was the author of the fi rst medical professional books in the Croatian language. Analyzing the fi rst Croatian midwifery textbook entitled Brevis institutio de re obstetritia iliti kratek navuk od mestrie pupkorezne za potrebochu muskeh y sziromaskeh ladanskeh sen horvatskoga orszaga y okolo nyega blisnesseh sztrankih from 1777, we found the fi rst printed original records on the professional promotion of breastfeeding in the Croatian language. The mentioned section provides instructions on the advantages of breastfeeding, which are also the fi rst modern professional article on the promotion of breastfeeding in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Croatian language. The impact of the fi rst Croatian midwifery textbook on breastfeeding promotion was exceptional. This is confi rmed by the contemporary knowledge and UNICEF breastfeeding promotion program in Croatia.