[Selected forms of health in the Polish Kingdom and Galicia during the First World War].

The forms of health care instituted during the First World War by medical organizations set up as a form of self-defense by the society have been presented. The health care was organised--in Galicia by Cracow Bishop Committee for assistance to war casualties (CBC) in Cracow and by Central Civic Committees in Warsaw (CCC). Sanitary sections organised by both Committee were engaged in health protection, specially in medical treatment of contagious diseases, its fighting down, prophylaxis and vaccination. The works on territory of Galicia were mainly located in presbyteries (network) and on territory of Polish Kingdom--in sanitary sections of local committees. The sanitary and medical activities of CBC and CCC were only part of their overall preoccupation. Flying sanitary-medical squads, mobile hospitals, vaccination points (kolumny) were among the basic forms of the work in the region. Committees provided sanitary and medical assistance to all citizens regardless of their nationality, paid special attention to protection of the children, and very often carried out prophylactic activities under the protection of the police. Committees were partly financed by Russia and Austria which gave their consent to formation of Committees, in that way solving the problems of underdeveloped at those times medical care with the hands of citizens themselves. Simultaneously these provided prophylcatic measures for the Austrain and the Russian armies against contagious diseases transmitted within the society. Despite some elements of social medical care put into practice by CCK at that time, one must admit that the system was bearing traces of alms and charity (CBC).