[Between barber's and hospital: the role of barber-surgeons in Osijek in the period from 1687 to 1746].

: This paper presents emergence and role of medical practitioners especially surgeons and barbers in particular in Osijek in the period marked by the Christian liberation in 1687 to the pronouncement of Regulationenfur Baderen in 1746. On the bases of archival sources we have revealed their identity, origin, number and reputation, and demonstrated differences in their duties in comparison to the other towns of the Habsburg Monarchy. We argued that their presence and activities can be explained by the position of Osijek as an important military fortification at the Othoman Empire's border, as well as with deficiency of physicians. The data presented in this paper demonstrate the very beginnings of medical practitioners in Osijek and are therefore important in understanding of the further development and the organization of health on this territory.