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This is a study of the issues related to Lord Byron's death, the primary component of which is malaria. Byron's medical profile includes recurrent bouts of fever, consistent with chronic malarial relapses. In addition, data derived from the British medical records of the Ionian Islands regarding the endemic nature of the disease in western Greece during the 19th century, raise the possibility of a fatal re-infection with malaria during Byron's last months. The example of Byron's chronic fever triggers the alarm over a current medical problem, namely the diagnosis of malaria imported by travellers or migrants, and the need for a detailed medical and travel history, which may place the possibility of malaria in the differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis in Greece during the interwar period was examined from a demographic and health perspective, based on the flow of patients in the Sanatorium of Parnitha (George Stavros and George Fuge Hospital), which served as a tuberculostatic infirmary of the Regional General Hospital "Evangelismos". Study was made of the annual publication entitled "Exposition of the Proceedings of the «Evangelismos» Infirmary, the G. Stavros and G. Fuge Hospital, and the Staff Pension Fund" for the period 1927-1939. Based on the activities of the sanatorium, the data collected covered the transfer of patients, the forms of tuberculosis, the diagnostic and therapeutic means of the time, the outcome of the patients and the duration of their hospitalization. From the records it was possible to correlate the days of hospitalization with the clinical form of tuberculosis and the type of treatment administered. The recorded data such as age, sex, marital status and occupation were examined, in an attempt to outline the demographic profile of the sanatorium patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research into the welfare institutions for the elderly, which were established in the Byzantine Empire. Objective: The purpose of the study is the research into the texts of the Byzantine chroniclers and the contemporary historical sources so as to determine the social policy of the Byzantine State regarding the homes for the aged. Methods: The histories and chronicles of the Byzantine writers, written in the original Greek language, were studied and analysed, so as to locate the extracts in the texts concerning the interest shown by the Byzantine State to establish institutions for old and ailing people. Results: The care for the elderly in Byzantium was undertaken in special infirmaries, called ‘gerocomeia’, which operated all over the empire mostly in or near the monasteries. All these nursing homes were highly esteemed and the governor of the institution seems to have been a person of high importance. The most important nursing home was located in Constantinople and was established by Emperor John II Comnenus in the 12th century in the famous monastery and hospital of the Pantocrator. Conclusion: The study and analysis of the historical texts of the Byzantine period (324–1453 AD) prove that human-oriented behaviour, which derived from the intervention of religion, contributed to the foundation of many welfare institutions for the elderly by the Byzantine emperors, the church and some individuals who showed great interest in them. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]