Travel medicine in Basel - 450 years before CISTM18

Abstract

Concern for travellers' wellbeing and safety is as old as humankind. Historic documents offer insights into how a safe journey was prepared or travel ailments treated based on the prevailing knowledge of body and (dys)function. In 1561, Guilhelmo Gratarolo published a comprehensive book on what we call today ‘travel medicine’. Many then problems are still today's travel malaises. How they were dealt with 450 years ago is uncovered in his fascinating publication.

Keywords

• History of medicine
• Travel health advice
• Gratarolo