The Role of European Medicine in the Process of Evolution of Traditional Medicine in Qajar Iran (1798-1896)

 Qajar Era was the rebirth of Iranian medical knowledge in dealing with modern western medicine. In this period, Iranians' awareness of Western scientific and cultural developments caused tremendous evolutions in Iranian traditional medical knowledge by Sending students to Europe and the presence of European physicians of political and religious deligations in Iran. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the bases and various dimensions of expansion of modern European medicine in Iran and its role in the process of evolution of traditional medicine in Qajar era (1220 to 1340 AH).

 This research has been done by descriptive-analytical method through library sources by useing main historical sources, travelogues, historical translated texts and recent reseaches.

Ethical Considerations:

 The method of this research is descriptive-analytical and in the method of library and documentary.

 The findings of the research indicate that, public health condition, deficiency of medical knowledge of Iranian physicians and inadequacy of Iranian government regulations to deal with the spread of infectious diseases, and also Iran's geopolitical position and competition of colonialists in Iran, caused extensive presence and activities of European physicians through delegations of European governments at Dar al-Fonun and Qajar court.

 Investigating the activities and innovations of  European physicians in Iran during the Qajar era, including the implementation of vaccination, clinical educations through the establishment of modern hospital by European physicians in Iran, foundation of pharmaceutical laboratory and also establishment of quarantine in a modern and efficient method to control epidemic diseases, specially in the Persian Gulf region, indicates the important and fundamental role of modern medical knowledge in the evolution process of the theoretical approach of Iranian medicine and the expansion and establishment of the theoretical and practical aspects of modern European medicine in Qajar-era.