VIRUS Band 23, pp. 53-70, 2025/04/24
Schwerpunkt: Mensch - Tier - Gesundheit
Until the 20th century, horses played an outstanding role as draught and pack animals or farm horses. They were symbols of powerful rulers, pivotal actors in the cavalry as well as in the mounted police. Even today, horses are cherished hunting and sports companions. This central importance of horses, mules and donkeys for the traditional working and living environment is also reflected in the history of medicine. Since ancient times, equidae have been at the forefront of veterinary healing attempts, so that one can even speak of the special subject of hippiatria. This shows the great attention that was paid to the health of these animals at all times. Diete tics and remedies were rooted in the principles of Hippocratic-Galenic medicine, and until the foun ding of the first veterinary institutes in the second half of the 18th century, therapists were primarily experienced stable masters and blacksmiths. Focusing on horse baths in health resorts, this article examines equine medicine that has so far received little attention in spa history.
Keywords: Horses, equine medicine, health resorts, hydrotherapy, early modern and early 19th century Europe
