The summer colonies: 'custodians' of the health of the young. Prophylaxis of infectious diseases and educational purposes in the reports of the school medical inspector Benedetto Barni (1893-1970) in the 1950s.

Abstract

Starting from the 1950s, climatic-prophylactic colonies for children took on characteristics that were partly different from those of their predecessors. From their origins until the years immediately following the Second World War, these facilities had the stated aims of education, prevention and cure for poor and malnourished children. In the mid-20th century, however, a change took place; the colonies no longer catered exclusively for the less privileged and most fragile, but rather for an economically and culturally heterogeneous population, while still maintaining the purpose of health prevention and promotion in childhood and adolescence. The number of agencies involved in organizing the colonies increased, and large companies also participated. Similarly, the annual number of children who spent a period of time in the colonies grew steadily, owing to intense migration towards the cities, increased female employment and holiday closures of large factories during the month of August. The authors recount this historical transition on the basis of the experience of the Sienese doctor Benedetto Barni (1893-1970) and the unpublished reports that he produced during his time as a school medical inspector. Against the backdrop of the teaching of the great hygienist and initiator of preventive medicine Achille Sclavo, who was Benedetto Barni's mentor, these reports testify to an everyday activity made up of real contacts with the people and with the territory; this enabled Barni to understand the social and healthcare problems facing the country and to try to work out a solution to them from the standpoint of preventative medicine.