[RARE COLLECTION OF THE OTTOMAN CLINICAL JOURNAL] عثمانلی سریریات مجموعسی / Osmanli serîriyyât mecmuasi. Ayda bir nesrolunur = Osmanli séririat medjmouassi = Revue médicale ottoman. 1911-1914. 29 issues (of 41). [i.e., Ottoman clinical journal]

[SAGLAM], TEVFIK SALIM (1882-1963).

Cemiyet-i Tıbbiye-i Osmaniye, Tanin Matbaasi & Kader Matbaasi, Istanbul, AH 1327 = 1330 = [1911-1914 CE].

In modern leather bindings with five raised bands to the spine. Gilt title on the second compartment, and blind tooling to the front board. The initials "C. H. B." and volume numbers are gilt-stamped on the fourth and fifth compartments. 4to (27 x 20 cm). In Ottoman script (Old Turkish with Arabic letters). Each issue contains 48 pages, illustrated. Occasional stable stains on the issues, with light soiling on some pages and covers. Several personal notes by the ex-owner. A very good collection.

Exceptionally rare collection of 29 issues of this Ottoman medical journal, published between March 1910 and February 1914 by faculty members of Istanbul University’s (Darülfünûn) School of Medicine. A significant publication in Turkish medical history, the journal suspended production during the Balkan Wars and ceased permanently in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I and its spread into the Ottoman Empire. This collection originates from the personal library of C. H. B., a renowned Turkish historian of medicine, and carries distinguished provenance.

The Ottoman Clinical Journal emerged from the principle of publishing a medical journal in the native language, a mission adopted by the Cemiyet-i Ilmiye-i Osmaniye (Society of Imperial Science). Founded in Istanbul in 1861 during the Tanzimat era through the efforts of Ottoman statesmen, this society sought to introduce modern European sciences to the empire’s young intelligentsia. Although the Gülhane Military Medical Academy suffered a loss of expertise when its staff, under the administration of Julius Wieting Pasha (1868-1922), moved to the new medical school, it embarked on a reform program. However, due to various conflicts and wartime conditions, the idea of establishing a new medical faculty was ultimately abandoned, leaving behind this rare medical journal as its legacy.

In the preface to its inaugural issue, published on March 10, 1910 (four years after the Ministry of War rejected Tevfik Salim Bey's 1906 license application), the Editorial Board articulated a clear threefold mission: to advance Ottoman medicine through every available means, to conscientiously disseminate information about new medical discoveries and developments to practitioners, and to systematically document domestic medical progress within the journal's pages whenever possible. This manifesto not only reflected the institution's commitment to scientific advancement but also represented a deliberate effort to strengthen Ottoman medical scholarship during a period of both reform and geopolitical upheaval.

In addition to the editorial board composed of medical school professors, the following medical professionals contributed to the journal with original and translated articles: Dr. Reşad Rıza [Kor], Dr. Julius Wieting Pasha, Dr. Neşet Ömer [İrdelp], Dr. Hulusi Behçet, Dr. Saim Ali [Dilemre], Dr. Server Kâmil [Tokgöz], Dr. Niyazi İsmet [Gözcü], Dr. Bahri İsmet [Temizer], Dr. Kenan Tevfik [Sezenel], Dr. Sani Yaver, Dr. Besim Ömer [Akalın], Dr. Kemâl Cenâb [Berksoy], Dr. Menahem Hodara, Dr. Süreyya Hidâyet [Serter], Dr. Kemaleddin Cemil [Keskinel], Dr. Ömer Fuad, Dr. Basri Hüsni, Dr. Mehmed Kâmil [Berk], Dr. Akif Tevfik, Dr. Ahmed Cevdet [Uğur], Dr. Hüsamettin Şerif [Kural], Dr. Nazım Şakir [Şakar], Dr. Rıfat Ahmed [Gözberk], Dr. Mehmed Kemal [Öke], Dr. İhsan Ali [İris], Dr. Abdülkadir Lütfi [Noyan], Dr. Ali Haydar [Erel], Dr. Eşref Ruşen, Dr. Mahmud Ata [Bayata], Dr. Sabri Mustafa, Dr. Hamid Osman, Dr. Hüseyin Ragıb, Dr. Hâlid Lütfi, Dr. Hrant Hançeryan, Dr. Azmi Arif, Dr. Talat Arif [Çamlı], Dr. Nedim, Dr. Süfyan, Dr. Vasfi, Dr. Tevfik İsmail [Gökçe].

Most of the content consists of clinical lectures, in line with the journal’s purpose of publication. In addition to these, the journal features biographies of physicians such as Robert Koch and Ernst von Leyden, as well as Tevfik Salim Bey’s article on medical terminology titled ‘Osmanlı Tıb Lisanı’ (Ottoman Medical Language), and his significant writings on the practice of medicine, patient care, and public health services under the title ‘Bizde Tababet’ (Medicine in Our Country). The section titled ‘Seririyat Dersleri’ (Clinical Lectures) is the most substantial part of the journal’s content.

Under the heading "Clinical Observations," the journal features systematic studies of disease progression and therapeutic outcomes. These articles provide meticulous documentation of symptom presentation across various illness stages, alongside evaluations of emerging treatments. Notably, they include pioneering research on novel therapies such as Salvarsan, examining both its therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles in special populations, including pregnant and lactating women, as well as pediatric patients. Most of these clinical findings were originally presented to the Ottoman Medical Society before publication.

The articles under the heading ‘Medical Research and Studies’ include medical research papers such as the Wassermann test for diagnosing syphilis, the bacteriological diagnosis of cholera, methods for detecting the tuberculosis bacillus, early diagnosis of typhoid, reports on the typhoid vaccine, research on the antigen-antibody system, physiology studies, and experiments with chemical treatments in animal trials. Additionally, it contains articles on pathological anatomy and autopsy, particularly by Hamdi Suat [Aknar] Bey. Furthermore, Tevfik Salim Bey published the official report of the British Tuberculosis Commission.

Under the “Cemiyat-i Tibbiye” column, medical performances of the Gülhane Military Medical School and Clinic, sessions of the Ottoman Medical Academy, and sessions of societies from abroad, such as the Berlin Medical Society and the French Society of Dermatology, have been published. Announcements of international congresses were made, and doctors who attended these congresses as delegates from Turkey shared their congress observations in this column. In addition to these, numerous articles can be found under the headings ‘Medications’, ‘Diagnosis and Treatment Notes’, ‘Article Summaries’, and ‘New News’.

For further detailed contents: Osmanlı Seririyat Mecmuası / Revue Médicale Ottomane (1910-1914), Başaran, Cem Hakan.

SOCIETY OF IMPERIAL MEDICINE:

The first medical society established in Turkey, the Cemiyet-i Tıbbiye-i Şahane, was founded in Istanbul on February 15, 1856, under the name Société de Médecine de Constantinople. Sultan Abdülmecid approved the founding of the society on 29 Ramadan 1272 / June 2, 1856, allocated a monthly stipend of 50 gold lira, and bestowed upon it the name Cemiyet-i Tibbiye-i Sahane-i Osmaniye, indicating his patronage. However, the society never used the “Osmaniye” designation.

During the Crimean War, the efforts to establish the society began when a group of physicians and surgeons who had come to Istanbul with the allied (British, French, Sardinian/Italian) armies gathered around Dr. Peter Pincoffs (1815–1872), a Dutch physician serving in the British army. Among the 40 founding members were Dr. K. Karatodori from the Imperial School of Medicine (Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Şahane) and several foreign civilian doctors working in Istanbul. The society’s first president was the French military surgeon Lucien Jean Baptiste Baudens (1804-1857).

To secure ongoing state support, honorary memberships were granted to high-ranking Ottoman physicians from the earliest years. The first Turkish honorary member (in 1856) was Keçecizade Dr. Fuad Pasha, who helped gain recognition of the society by Sultan Abdülmecid. Hekimbaşı Hayrullah Efendi and Salih Efendi were elected honorary members in 1859, and Arif Bey, director of the Imperial School of Medicine, in 1861. Although the number of Turkish members increased over time, Turkish physicians were not admitted as full members until the 1890s.

To become an “ordinary member” (asli üye) of the society, one was required to hold a diploma from a medical, pharmacy, or veterinary school and to present a scientific study. The society also had many “corresponding members” (membre correspondant) living in European countries.

Tevfik Salim Saglam was a prominent Turkish military physician and professor who made significant contributions to medical education and public health reforms during the formative years of the Republic of Turkey. His distinguished career spanned critical periods of transition, beginning with his service as Chief Physician of the Health Division for the Selanik Redif Brigade during the Balkan Wars. During World War I, he rose to become Chief of Health Services for both the 2nd and 3rd Armies, followed by his appointment as Chief of Internal Medicine at the prestigious Gülhane Military Medical Academy. Beyond his military service, Sağlam played a pivotal role in modernizing Turkey's medical infrastructure. As a passionate advocate for public health reform, he spearheaded efforts to establish specialized treatment centres for tuberculosis and malaria. His academic leadership was equally noteworthy, culminating in his selection as the inaugural Dean of Istanbul University's Faculty of Medicine, where he helped shape the next generation of Turkish medical professionals. Through his combined work in military medicine, institutional reform, and medical education, Sağlam left an indelible mark on Turkey's healthcare system during its transition to modernity.

RARITY AND HOLDINGS WORLDWIDE:

The magazine was published irregularly at times, and while its exact circulation is unknown, it is believed to have been issued in limited numbers. Aside from the interruption during the Balkan Wars, it also faced suspensions under challenging circumstances. It is extremely rare today and, to our knowledge, does not survive as a complete set anywhere in the world except for the University of Health Sciences Library in Turkey.

At the IBB Atatürk Library, the following issues have been identified: Year 1: Nos. 1-4, 10, 12; Year 2: Nos. 1-12; Year 3: Nos. 1, 4-7, 9, 11.
At the Hakki Tarık Us Library in Istanbul: Year 1: Nos. 1-12; Year 2: Nos. 1-12.
At the Beyazit State Library in Istanbul: Year 3: Nos. 1-7, 9-11.
At the University of Health Sciences Library of the History of Medicine and Deontology: Year 1: Nos. 1-12.
At the Department of History of Medicine and Ethics, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine: Year 4: No. 1.
At the Department of History of Medicine and Ethics, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine: Year 1: Nos. 1-12.
At the Istanbul University Hulusi Behçet Library: Year 1: Nos. 1-12; Year 2: Nos. 1-12; Year 3: Nos. 1-12; Year 4: Nos. 1-5.
At Uludag University Library: Year 1: No. 12; Year 2: Nos. 1-11.
At Atatürk University Library, in the Seyfettin Özege Collection: Year 1: Nos. 2, 4; Year 2: Nos. 2-4, 8-12; Year 3: Nos. 1-3.
At the National Library of Ankara: Year 1: Nos. 1-12; Year 2: Nos. 1, 6-8; Year 3: No. 3; Year 4: No. 5.
In addition, at the Duke University Library in the USA: Year 1: Nos. 1-12; Year 2: Nos. 1-12.

The last known issue of the journal is Year 4, No. 5, dated July 1330 [July 1914]. Based on this date, although a definitive conclusion cannot be reached, it is highly probable that this was the final issue published. This is supported by a bibliographic entry (albeit with a question mark) in an article by Bedi Sehsuvaroglu suggesting the journal ended in 1914, and by the fact that, although the Ottoman Empire officially entered the war on October 29, 1914, World War I had already begun on July 28, 1914.

Duman 1669.; As of May 2025, OCLC shows two missing holdings (not set) at Duke (Only issues of the first two years) & Princeton Libraries.; Basaran: Osmanlı Seririyat Mecmuasi / Revue Médicale Ottomane (1910-1914).