[Domestic hygiene over the ages]

The family household belongs without doubt to the oldest social institutions of the history of mankind. If there were collecting and hunting tribes or already settled farmers, in every case the manufacturing, conserving and preparing of the hunted or gathered nutrition was always the focus of the household attention. Naturally next to it problems of clothing and heating played in this connection an important role. Very soon special instruments were developed for these purposes of production and workmanship by men and the advantages or disadvantages of certain proceedings were evident. As concerned the medico-historical view one can discern four different ways of consideration of domestic hygiene: 1. Mystical-magical conceptions, which started from the ideas of the influence of foreign partially supernatural powers on manufacturing and conserving of food. 2. The idea of the disastrous influence of an whatever supposed intoxication. 3. With the beginning of bacteriology the opinion even in general public of the contamination of foods and at last 4. The fear before a radiation contamination, which grew up recently with an increased importance. For all four considerations there will be put forward historical examples and beyond this it will be examined the influence of kitchen instruments and the increased automatic control in the household. But in parallel connection the increased knowledge of hygienic basic conditions and the application in the household area will be discussed. Shortly the changed part of the woman in household will be mentioned and its importance as concerned housekeeping in past and present will be demonstrated.