[Public health and medical corps in transition: the case of Crete at the beginning of the 20th century].

This article deals with the transformation of the public health system in Crete at the turn of the century, when the island was placed under the protection of the European Powers. Cretan archives, especially those from the town of Rethimno, provide a wealth of information on this subject. They show that the new ruling powers, with the declared objective of safeguarding their soldiers, required local authorities to keep a close watch over epidemics, indeed to lock up populations considered dangerous for public health, such as lepers and prostitutes--who did not fail to put up a strong resistance. While providing equipment for hospital facilities, which were still primitive, the Powers also introduced legislation concerning the practice of medicine, from which Muslim Cretans were gradually excluded. The rate at which medical care was provided increased markedly at the beginning of the twentieth century, in particular in the principal towns. The Rethimno notarial archives reveal that this new and well qualified medical corps belonged to the world of prominent citizens, and while ministering to the town's health needs, they held considerable political and economic power.