2013 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 24
The well-being of leaders represents a complex responsibility for their private doctors. Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714), known as the founder of occupational medicine, drew the attention on the essential role of a doctor to preserve the health of social leaders and other people form the upper class society. This paper reviews Ramazzini’s observations, from the early seventeenth century, on the health of high ranking people of his time. To teach these people how to keep their health was mentioned in one of Bernardino Ramazzini’s rather unknown work, L’art de conserver la santé des princes, et des personnes du premier rang [The art of maintaining the health of princes and of persons of high rank]. This work focused on the role of the doctor and on the particular preventative measures for the health and the treatment of high ranking people. From this point of view, the book gained a more contemporary meaning. This book presents also the qualities of a personal doctor and the manner in which the health status of people in the upper class society or of their leaders had to be monitored. Living in a healthy environment, keeping moderation in eating and drinking, having a daily exercise schedule, a good personal hygiene and a healthy sleep schedule, and cultivating self-control are the preventative key points exposed in this book. The key to success is the continuous medical education of the private doctors. These rules are still valid today and not only for the health of the leaders or people of wealthy backgrounds.
