[The protection of infant life: from XVIII to XXI century (the input of physicians and scientists of the Research Center of Children Health of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences)].

The article deals with issues of protection of infant life in the history of the research center of children health of the Russian academy of medical sciences which originates from the Emperor Moscow founding hospital established September 1 1763 according decree of Empress Catherine II. As long as infant mortality persisted at extremely high rate during centuries, the protection of life of children of early age considered as a strategic public purpose in Russia right until middle of XX century. The activity of farsighted and responsible rulers of Russia laid the foundation to public system of mother and child health care 250 years ago. The physicians and researchers of the Moscow founding hospital and such its successors as the Infant Protection Home, the Institute of protection of maternity and infancy and the academic institute of pediatrics made their own input into protection of infant life. Because of all that, children mortality at infant age decreased more than in 30 times. Billions of children lives were saved.