TITLE:
The Success of Healthcare Providers Who Fought the Epidemic of the Meiji Era in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
AUTHORS:
Yuko Harding, Shinji Sunada, Masako Yano
KEYWORDS:
Healthcare Provider, Meiji Era, Mizunami City, Vaccination, Epidemic
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.11 No.3,
March
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Knowing an epidemic existed in Mizunami city and knowing the healthcare provided to overcome the disease may give hints on how the epidemic was handled. Aim: To examine the literature on the epidemic that occurred in the Meiji era and the contributions of healthcare providers who were active in the history of Mizunami city. Method: This is a historical study, mainly using literature. In collaboration with the Mizunami City Board of Education, we searched for materials stored by Mizunami city. In addition, with the cooperation of the local residents of the healthcare providers who were active in Mizunami city, we collected materials in reference to our purpose. Result: The outbreak of the epidemic near Mizunami city was seen as a fight against smallpox. In addition, cholera, dysentery, Spanish flu, and typhoid fever also occurred. Vaccinations were carried out in the Tono region. Healthcare providers who were active in the Meiji era include six doctors and two midwives. Discussion: In the future, it will be necessary to provide more in-depth evidence through surveys, such as interviews with the cooperation of relatives of the active healthcare providers. Conclusion: In the Meiji era, in the vicinity of Mizunami city, doctors and midwives actively fought against epidemics, such as smallpox and other infectious diseases.