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Turkey celebrates Pharmacy Day

14 May 2011 [10:41] - TODAY.AZ
The first pharmacies in Turkey were opened in hospitals established in Anatolia during the Seljuk era, but it was only in the middle of the 18th century that pharmacies, resembling those in Europe, opened. The oldest known pharmacy was opened by foreign graduates of Europe’s pharmacy schools called the "Pharmacy with Two Doors" in 1757 at Bahçekapı.

Pharmacy education in Turkey up to the middle of the 19th century was carried out using an apprenticeship system. Then on May 14, 1839, a "Pharmacy Class" was opened at the Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Adliye-i Şahane established by Sultan Mahmut II in Galatasaray.

In the second half of the 19th century Ottoman pharmacists began to establish associations in order to debate and seek solutions to problems of the profession. The first pharmaceutical professional association in Istanbul was established on May 6, 1864, under the leadership of Giogio Della Sudda (Fayk Pasa) and was called the "Societe de Pharmacie de Constantinople." Since some of its members were foreigners and others were drawn from minorities, its official language was French, but this only lasted about 10 years, and finally in 1879 a second association was established that included the first Turkish members, Numan Bey and Rıza Efendi.

Over time, various associations were established. In 2006 there were already 47 different associations in cities and towns around the company. Although there was considerable debate over the past few decades as to what day should be chosen as a national holiday, the final decision was May 14, the date when the first pharmaceutical studies class was opened. The day is generally celebrated within the pharmaceutical community itself. For example the Chamber of Istanbul Pharmacists has organized a weeklong program of music, theater and film showings this year.

Pharmacies in Ottoman times

Until the middle of the 18th century, when there was growing interaction between Europe and the Ottoman Empire, pharmacies were an integral part of the many hospitals that were established to treat the sick. These hospitals were often built as acts of charity by sultans or imperial families and wealthy individuals. Here the poor would be treated free of charge. They would be admitted after being cleansed in a hamam and then given a hospital garment to wear, not much different from today’s hospital except for the hamam visit.

Ottoman hospitals operated as polyclinics but with a difference, no charge including home visits and medicine. And no charge if the sick person’s caretakers came in place of them and described the symptoms to the doctors who would explain what medicine was to be given to the caretakers at no charge. According to Dr. Ayten Altıntaş at the Şifahanes of Istanbul, anyone taking advantage of the free facility would be hit with the curses of the Pharaoh and Croesus, whatever those might be.

The medicine used would be kept in the depots of the hospitals. The most important of these medicines were such medicines as antidotes and were used for every kind of ailment, especially in cases of poisoning. Altintas also notes that there are documents and books related to treatment going back as far as the Seljuk period, from which one can obtain an idea of what medication would be prescribed in what instances. Some of the most commonly used medications would be prepared in large quantities by the pharmacists and stored so that they would last for a long time. These included remedies for "fevers, headaches, stomach aches, general malaise, skin conditions, insomnia and aching joints."

The most important of the preparations were termed "tiryaks." The tiryaks were used to strengthen the immune system and could be used before or after an illness. One in particular, Altıntaş describes, had more than 40 active ingredients including snake flesh and the longer it could be kept, the greater the effect. The ingredients generally consisted of plants and everything would be ground, sieved and mixed with honey.

Pastes were another way of preparing common remedies and they could be dissolved in water or used as paste. They were particularly used for restorative medicines and were made using various fruits.

Syrups were often used for reducing fevers and thirst. Some of the syrups were made from roses, violets, pomegranates and tamarind. Although tamarind had to be brought from Egypt or India, it was frequently used to ease malaria patients.

Ointments were the most common way to treat skin diseases and burns although one has to wonder about their efficacy. Take for example "black ointment," which was made of beeswax, olive oil and black tar. It certainly must have smelled.

The Şifahanes of Istanbul, published by IBB Culture, Inc., also describes the pharmacies in various mosque complexes around the city as well as the various pharmacies in Topkapı Palace. In fact this is one of the first palaces in the world to produce medication. Thanks to written documentation, today there are 186 prescriptions for a variety of illnesses as well as for cosmetics that were made up between 1608 and 1767. Not only were these used for the sultan and his family, but they were given to all of the members of the sultan’s household who were residents at the palace. In addition, two doctors were always on duty, and medication was kept under the control of the chief physician in his room.

The book is replete with beautiful color photographs, source material and a readable text filled with interesting tidbits about Ottoman charity hospitals, doctors, medicine and pharmaceutical practices.


/Hurriyet Dauly News/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/86184.html

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