Hospitals and administrative-health regulation in Mežiška Dolina (River Meža valley) at the turn of the 19th century

Abstract

The organisation of health care districts in Mežiška dolina at the end of the 19^th century leaned on health service institutions, physicians of fraternal funds and industrial plants of lead mines in Mežica, ironworks in Prevalje, coalmine in Leše, and the ironworks of count Thurn from the middle of the 19^th century. Namely, in the highly industrialised Mežiška dolina, as many as four hospitals were under the patronage of fraternal funds in operation in Črna, Prevalje, Leše and in Guštanj. After the adoption of the Carinthian provincial health service law in 1884, which regulated health service on communal level, two health service districts were formed in Mežiška dolina: Zgornja Mežiška dolina and Guštanj. In 1893, Dravograd became the seat of the new health service district as well.