Notes On Traditional Treatments in a Forgotten Ottoman Toxicology Booklet Cover Image

Osmanlı’da Unutulmuş Bir Ağı Bilimi Risalesinde Geleneksel Tedaviler Üzerine Notlar
Notes On Traditional Treatments in a Forgotten Ottoman Toxicology Booklet

Author(s): Merve Yorulmaz Kahve
Subject(s): Modern Age, Health and medicine and law, The Ottoman Empire
Published by: Uluslararası Kıbrıs Üniversitesi
Keywords: risale; toxin science; antidote; Ottoman Empire; custom;

Summary/Abstract: From the 13th century onwards, Turkish medicine in the Ottoman geography began producing its own written works. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it turned its focus towards the West, resulting in a more diverse and rich body of literature. During this period, treatment methods rooted in tradition and belief, particularly around folk medicine, were employed. It can be said that the developments of this period are easily traceable through treatises. These writings often discuss treatment methods and cures for diseases, as well as antidotes used against poisonings. Although there have been some limited studies on these works, the absence of a study specifically on the translated and examined manuscript in this research prompted its initiation. This paper is based on a manuscript registered under the name “Risale-i Beyan-ı Havass-ı Panzehir” in the Collection of Mustafa Hakkı Yeşil Library of Kütahya Municipality, Türkiye (Catalog number: B024242/01). Although the library records list it as “Risale-i Beyan-ı Havass-ı Panzehir,” the author prefers the name “Derbeyān-ı cevher” at the beginning of the work. However, he immediately adds, “Ammā baʿd; risāle-i ʿamelı̇ ̄ olan pānzehiri ḫavāṣṣı beyānındadur.” In this paper, the manuscript’s mentioned antidote-whose specific substance is not explicitly stated in the relevant manuscript-is classified into twenty-three remedies. The linguistic elements used in treatments, such as animal and plant names, are evaluated within the framework of contributions to the Turkish language’s lexicon.

  • Issue Year: 30/2024
  • Issue No: 117
  • Page Range: 239-256
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Turkish
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