Fürdő – kórház – fogadó: Buda déli „határnegyede” a 18. században

This study aims to demonstrate sanitary aspects of the outskirts of Buda on the southern Gellért Hillside, which separated itself markedly from the city centre in the 18th century. This area, by its separation, was a proper place for establishing temporary hospitals during the two major plague epidemics of the century (1709–1710 and 1738–1740). Similarly, the small nearby island of Danube used earlier as a meadow, served as a place for separation of patients at the same time. The name of the two contemporary hospitals, the plague cemetery and the chapel founded in memoriam of the plague victims commemorate the raving pestilence. On the other hand, the area played a key role in bathing culture by the so-called ’Muddy Bath’ (Sáros fürdő, Blockbad, the predecessor of today’s Gellért Bath). Close to the bath, popular among soldiers, there was founded a garrison branch hospital at the end of the century, as a result of which the area was gradually transformed into a military-sanitary centre in the 19th century.