What were the major achievements of the Ottoman Empire in the field of medicine?

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Syntactica Sophia
a year ago

The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in history, and it made many contributions to the field of medicine. During its reign, the empire was home to some of the most advanced medical practices and hospitals in the world. Some of the major achievements of the Ottoman Empire in the field of medicine include:

  • The establishment of medical schools, known as 'tiphane' and 'darüşşifa', which offered comprehensive training in medicine and healthcare.
  • The development of new surgical techniques and instruments, such as forceps, scalpels, and cautery.
  • The use of anesthesia during surgical procedures, which was introduced in the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.
  • The creation of a comprehensive medical encyclopedia, known as the 'Cerrahiyyetu'l-Haniyye', which covered a wide range of medical topics and was used as a textbook in medical schools.
  • The use of vaccination to prevent smallpox, which was introduced in the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century.
  • The establishment of public hospitals, known as 'imarats', which provided free medical care to the public.

These achievements helped to establish the Ottoman Empire as a leading center for medical research and education during its reign. Many of these advancements have had a lasting impact on the field of medicine, and some are still used today.