[The development of medical care in prison system of Russia (end of XVII-early XX centuries)].

The article considers historical medical aspect of development of medical care of convicts in Russia. The first mentioning about treatment of ill criminals relates to 1775. In 1788 the Regulations of prisons was prepared using experience ofprison systems of European states. From 1819, organization of medical care ofpopulation fell within the competence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that created conditions for organization of medical care in prison system. The legal basics of medical care of convicts were adopted in 1831. In 1850, out of980 000 of jailed prisoners died 1598 (0.16%) of them. In 1879, in the prison Headquarters was organized position of inspector of medical care. This employee coordinated rendering of medical care of prisoners and developed sanitary hygienic measures. The primary unit of national penitentiary system made up authorities of management ofparticular places of confinement. In 1887physicians andfeldshers were accredited to them. The state placed very high demands to medical personnel. The treatment of ill prisoners implemented at the expense of the state. During analyzed period, uniform medical statistics of morbidity. It is demonstrated that special attention was paid to infectious diseases.