Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Feb 2016

In all societies, considering the nature of physicians’ profession, regarded as one of the confident groups among other social strata as well as in the courts, physicians had very high dignity and acquired kings’ revere accordingly. However, in diplomatic relations confidence strengthens mutualties. Isaac Beg was one of Iranian medics who arrived in the palace of Stephan III in 1474. In the aforementioned era, European rulers grappled with the Ottomans who tried to gain control over seas and disturbed the process of trade in the Levant. King of Aq Qoyunlu after suzerainty over the domestic rivals could gain power in Persia and inclined to dominate Anatolia in 1473. On the other hand, by gaining initial success in Anatolia, Sultan Mohamed II stood against Aq Qoyunlu ambitions, but Uzun Hasan held his dogged point to accomplish the mentioned goal. Although Europe languished in chaos and the continuous outbreaks on Wallachia exhausted and blurred lifestyle, Stephan III launched some sterunous marches but when battles bursted between rulers of Hungary and Moldavia, the latter was injured and entreated Uzun Hasan to dispatch a physician to cure his wounded leg. This article tries to portray the attempts of Aq Qoyunlu ruler in invoking Europeans to open an outlet to trade and to beginning a new crusade against Ottoman progress.

In the 20th century, an unprecedented level of international cooperation led to the eradication of smallpox, infamously referred to as the most terrible ministers of death. Under the guardianship of the World Health Organisation, mass vaccination campaigns and an efficient surveillance-detection system contributed to the eradication of smallpox from Bahrain, where it was once considered endemic. The last reported outbreak of smallpox in the country occurred in the villages of Demistan and Muqsha in 1956. Smallpox in Bahrain was officially declared to have been eradicated in 1978 in a report to the Global Commission For Certification of Smallpox Eradication. Recalling the epidemiology and strategies used during this pivotal moment in medical history provides a hopeful background in tackling future diseases.

Alopecia areata is a dermatologic disorder which presents itself with sudden and patchy hair loss. The aim of this study is to assess the issues related to the similar condition in ancient manuscripts of Traditional Persian Medicine. This is a descriptive review study in which a number of well-known traditional Persian manuscripts such as; Kamil Al-Sina’A Al-Tibbiyyaby Al-Majusi, ‘Ali ibn al-’Abbas(10 th century C.E.), Cannon of Medicine by Avicenna (10th -11 th century C.E.), Sharh al-Asbab wa al-Alamatby Nafis ibn Aiwaz Kirmani(14 th -15 th century C.E.), Mofarrah-al-gholooband Tebb-e-Akbariboth by Hakim Mohammad Akbar Arzani(17 th -18th century C.E.) and Exir-e-Azamby Hakim Mohammad Azam Khan (19th century C.E.) are assessed. Traditional Persian scholars paid a special attention to hair and skin diseases, and as a temperamental medicine, the disease diagnosis and treatment were categorized in one of the subtitles of hair loss named Da-ol-Saelab. As a Traditional Persian Medicine point of view, the first step in treatment is to diagnose the responsible humor for the ailment from the patient’s symptoms and signs and then, to try to expel it. The general approach adopted by most Iranian traditional physicians include: general cleansing of the body, cleansing of the involved organ (i.e. brain) and finally cleansing the affected skin, stimulating hair regrowth and correcting the patient’s diet. This study states that Persian traditional physicians were probably aware of the disease which today is known as “Alopecia areata”. Obviously, the viewpoint of Traditional Persian Medicine differs from the conventional one, but it seems the experiences of traditional physicians used for many years, the research and comparative analysis with current methods could help us improve treatment methods.

Soryani School is one of the most important medical schools dating back from the ancient world to the Islamic period. Since its establishment (contemporary with Alexander) up to the empowerment of Ashkanid and Sasanid dynasties, and since Arabs attacked the foundation of Abbasid dynasty (a period of about 1000 years), the Soryani School which was very active in Mesopotamia and Northern Syria, made a big progress in medicine. The School was formed in scientific centers like Jondishapour, Raha (Edasa), Nasibin and Harran. Translation contributed to the transmission of its scientific achievements at the time of Jondishapour establishment (contemporary with Khosro Anushirvan) and Baghdad School (contemporary with Haroun Al-Rashid and Ma’mun). With its scientific schools, hospitals and well-equipped libraries, Soryani School gained an international reputation. Great scholars and scientists who rose in this school made valuable innovations and progress in medicine. In this study, we aimed to discuss this great scientific center and some of its most important scholars.

The foundation of anatomy and medicine is based on the efforts of the daring and genius scholars, and those who had the intensity to change the situation. A professor at the University of Padua, the Belgian Anatomist Andreas Vesalius is one of such great pioneers who, 502 years later, is still known as a great scholar and revolutionary anatomist. He wrote a book entitled “Fabrica” in Anatomy in 1543 which is an index of both science and art. He criticized Galen works with a seeker’s look, and thus he challenged the thoughts of the ancient world and its representatives; the Pope, the Archbishop, bishops, church people and also his colleagues. Andreas Vesalius’s practices and scientific achievements in anatomy are so outstanding that his works could be considered as an introduction to modern medicine. Therefore, recognizing him is essential for those in the field of history of medical sciences as well as the specialists in the medical and paramedical professions along with the students in these fields. That is why the academic life, work and his efforts in opening up new fields of anatomy are addressed in this article.