"From the theory of juices to modern medicine 1850-2020"

In his book "From the Theory of Juices to Modern Medicine 1850-2020: Medical Care of a Graubünden Mountain Region through the Ages" (2022), Dr. Martin Tomaschett addresses the medical change in the Graubünden mountain regions from the mid-19th century to the year 2020. During this time, the basic understanding of medicine detached itself from the ancient doctrine of juices and developed into modern scientific medicine. The author vividly describes how this progress took place locally in Graubünden on the basis of surviving medical histories.

On the occasion of the book presentation, which is jointly organised by the Cantonal Library and the State Archives of the Grisons, Martin Tomaschett comments on these medical histories from today's medical point of view, using the example of the rural practice in the village of Trun in the Surselva. The descriptions of the everyday professional life of three doctors from three different eras offer an insight into one of the most exciting periods in medical history to date, with a special focus on rural medical medicine, which has developed independently as a discipline. This enables a new perspective on the history of medicine. Previous descriptions of rural practices usually report on the few decades of a single doctor. In contrast, Martin Tomaschett offers a much more comprehensive insight into the development over 170 years in terms of time and content. Much of it amazes us and makes us smile.