Vilnius Medical society

Plica polonica was described as the endemic disease prevalent in the region of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the neighboring countries in the XVI^th - XIX^th centuries, beginning with a long lasting nervous-rheumatic ailment, progressing to formation of matted, felted and filthy hair plait. Plica polonica till the end of the XIX^th century in Vilnius was believed to be multi-organ disease, involving not only skin and its appendages, but also associated with number of chronic diseases.

Robert Koch is the initiator of the modern microbiology, the founder of the tuberclebacillus as well bacilli of anthrax and cholera and the creator of world bac­teriology school. In 1905 he was awarded Nobel prize and became well known in medical society. However, his connec­tions and influence on Lithuanian medi­cine is not investigated and there are no publications about him.