The article presents a systematic analysis of A. P. Chekhov’s early stories (1880–1884) in which the topic of medicine in the contemporary society is featured, as well as the images of doctors and patients, motives of illness and treatment. It is shown how Chekhov’s personal experience as a general practitioner influenced the problem range and poetics of the stories with this topic. Their genre and idea evolution has been traced in the author’s movement towards maturity.
