The Influence of Abdulhamid II’s Relationship with Pasteur and the Pasteur Institute on Ottoman Medicine
Abdülhamid II’s interest in medicine and health initiated relations with Louis Pasteur. The scientific contacts and achievements established on this axis were turned into a policy by order of the sultan. The interaction between Abdülhamid II and Pasteur, which started in the last quarter of the 19th century, can be said to have created an infrastructure for the current scientifically based health policies in terms of public health and preventive medicine practices that have continued from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. The process initiated by Abdülhamid II, in line with his relations with Pasteur and the Pasteur Institute, paved the way for a more effective fight against other infectious diseases such as rabies, anthrax, smallpox, and diphtheria. In this study, Abdülhamid II’s relations with Pasteur and the Pasteur Institute, which formed the basis of modern public health policies, were evaluated in the light of archival documents, printed works, periodicals, statistical reports, and copyrighted works. The study was conducted using the survey model and document analysis method.
II. Abdülhamid’in Pasteur ve Pasteur Enstitüsü ile Olan Münasebetlerinin Osmanlı Tıbbına Etkileri
II. Abdülhamid’in tıp ve sağlığa ilgisi Louis Pasteur ile olan münasebetleri başlatmıştır. Bu eksende kurulan bilimsel temaslar ve kazanımlar padişah emriyle bir politika haline getirilmiştir. 19. yüzyılın son çeyreğinde başlayan II. Abdülhamid ile Pasteur etkileşimi, güncel bilimsel temele dayanan sağlık politikalarının Osmanlı’dan günümüze kadar devam eden halk sağlığı ve koruyucu hekimlik uygulamaları yönüyle bir alt yapı oluşturduğu söylenebilir. II. Abdülhamid’in Pasteur ve Pasteur Enstitüsü ile münasebetleri doğrultusunda başlattığı süreç, kuduz, şarbon, çiçek, difteri gibi diğer bulaşıcı hastalıklarla mücadelenin daha etkin bir şekilde yürütülmesine ön ayak olmuştur. Bu çalışmada modern halk sağlığı politikalarının temelini oluşturan II. Abdülhamid’in, Pasteur ve Pasteur Enstitüsü ile olan münasebetleri arşiv belgeleri, döneme ait basılı eserler, süreli yayınlar, istatistik raporları ve telif-tetkik eserler ışığında değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma tarama modeli ve doküman analizi yöntemiyle yapılmıştır
In the 19th century, developments in microbiology in the West highlighted the importance of preventive healthcare services. Alongside the emergence of modern approaches in state governance, state officials began to be held responsible for healthcare services and were authorized to take necessary measures for public health. These advancements also influenced the Ottoman Empire, leading to the modernization of administrative and healthcare practices concerning public health. Health reforms in the Ottoman Empire gained momentum during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II. A notable development was the implementation of vaccination programs, particularly against rabies and smallpox, to improve public health.
In addition to structural reforms in healthcare, Abdulhamid II prioritized the training and education of numerous physicians and healthcare personnel to address the healthcare needs of the time, especially concerning infectious diseases. He adopted an encouraging stance toward sending physicians and healthcare teams abroad for education. In the fall of 1885, Louis Pasteur’s introduction of the rabies vaccine to the scientific community caught the attention of Abdulhamid II, who closely followed healthcare advancements in Europe. Approximately seven months later, in the spring of 1886, he ordered a delegation to be sent to Paris to learn about the newly developed rabies vaccine from Louis Pasteur. The delegation was to include prominent experts such as Zoeros Pasha, Hüseyin Remzi, and Hüseyin Hüsnü, with Zoeros Pasha designated as the head. Even before their departure from Istanbul, the delegation attracted the attention of the French press and was featured in several newspapers. To honor Pasteur, Zoeros Pasha was entrusted with a sum of money and a medal to be presented to the newly established Pasteur Institute.
After receiving comprehensive training in Paris, the delegation returned to Istanbul and was tasked with implementing modern vaccination techniques against rabies. During Abdulhamid II\'s reign, physicians were sent to Europe not only to study rabies and diphtheria vaccines but also to learn methods for combating other infectious diseases. Institutional reforms in combating infectious diseases were realized upon the return of these trained physicians. The first rabies hospital, Dâülkelp Tedavihanesi, was established in Sirkeci Demirkapı by Zoeros Pasha in 1887. In 1892, the Telkihhane-i Şâhâne was founded to produce and develop smallpox vaccines. By 1893, the Bakteriyolojihane-i Şâhâne and Tebhirhaneler were established to produce the vaccines and serums needed to fight epidemics.
The integration of medical knowledge into healthcare services, particularly concerning rabies and anthrax, was facilitated by those sent from Istanbul to train at the Pasteur Institute. Experts in their fields who received advanced training at this pioneering institution returned to Istanbul, paving the way for future overseas education opportunities for healthcare personnel in other areas. Statistical records of treatments provided valuable insights into the outcomes of efforts to combat infectious diseases, enabling the evaluation of healthcare policies\' success. These records demonstrated the effectiveness of implemented policies, which subsequently facilitated the expansion of preventive healthcare practices across Anatolia.
The physicians who implemented these successful healthcare policies were commended, boosting their motivation. Additionally, individuals from the Pasteur Institute who visited the Ottoman Empire had the opportunity to assess how their advancements were integrated into Ottoman healthcare policies in institutional and practical terms. Their feedback further contributed to the improvement of healthcare services.
This study, conducted using the survey model and document analysis method, utilized documents obtained from the Ottoman Archives, printed works from the period, periodicals, statistical reports, and original studies. Searches were conducted in the open-access Ottoman Archive catalog of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of State Archives, and relevant documents pertaining to the research topic were selected.
For obtaining printed works from the period, the Digital Archive and e-Resources of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Atatürk Library, the e-Resources of Atatürk University Central Library, and the National Library Digital Library System were utilized. Foreign periodicals were accessed via Gallica, the digital library of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, and its partners.
Sources written in Ottoman Turkish and French were translated into modern Turkish. All these documents were systematically examined, and the findings were analyzed and discussed.
