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Professions and intestinal infections in 15th-century Florence

Esther Diana1

  • 1Documentation Centre for Care and Health, Florentine History.

Canadian Bulletin of Medical History = Bulletin Canadien D'Histoire De La Medecine
|June 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

This study links 15th-century intestinal infectious diseases to specific labor activities in Florence. Certain professions among lesser laborers showed higher exposure to infectious pathologies during plague epidemics.

Area of Science:

  • Historical epidemiology
  • Medieval occupational health

Background:

  • Investigating the relationship between intestinal infectious diseases and occupational activities in 15th-century Florence.
  • Utilizing historical records, specifically the Libri dei Morti (Books of the Dead) from the Florentine Ufficio della Grascia (Office of Fatness).

Observation:

  • Data from 1424-25 and 1430, periods marked by a plague epidemic, were analyzed.
  • Records included details on illness, residence, and social status of the deceased.
  • Additional notes on causes of death were enriched due to social and economic circumstances.

Findings:

  • Analysis of illness types, residence, and social status revealed patterns.
  • Certain professional activities were associated with increased risk of intestinal infectious diseases.
  • Lesser laborers in specific roles exhibited higher susceptibility.

Implications:

  • Highlights the occupational risks faced by medieval laborers.
  • Provides insight into disease transmission in historical urban settings.
  • Informs understanding of the interplay between occupation, environment, and infectious disease in the past.

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