EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the Eastern and Western authors and physicians quoted by Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi (died 1769), the chief physician of the Ottoman Empire, in his work Risãla ʽillat mathãna. The study also aimed to determine whether Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi benefited from the views of the physicians that he mentioned in his treatise and, if so, from which works he benefited.
Materials and Methods: In this study, a copy of Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendiʽs Risãla ʽi rãbiʽ fî al-mathãna, with the registration number T 3796/4 in the Turkish manuscripts section of the Istanbul University Rare Books Library, was examined. Eastern and Western physicians mentioned by Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi in this work were first identified; then, a literature search was conducted regarding these authors and their works.
Results: In his Risãla ʽillat mathãna, Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi mentions the names of eminent Eastern physicians and quotes from their works. For example, he mentions Ibn Sînã (980-1037) and his work al-Qãnūn fî al-Ṭibb, Najîb al-dîn al-Samarqandî (died 1222) and his work al-Asbãb wa l-ʽalãmãt, and Ibn Mãsawayḩ (died 857). He also mentions the names of Western physicians and their works. For example, he mentions Lazarus Riverius (1589-1655), Ioannes Fernelius (1497-1558), Petrus Forestus (1521-1597), and Amatus Lusitanus (1511-1568).
Conclusions: Regarding sources, Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi refers to The Canon of Medicine and a commentary on al-Asbãb wa l-ʽalamãt written by al-Kirmãnî in his work. His main Western source was Lazarus Riveriusʽs Praxis Medica. More specifically, he draws on the section of Praxis Medica titled “Dysuria seu ardoris urine curatio.” Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ also refers to other Western physicians, including Ioannes Fernelius, Petrus Forestus, and Amatus Lusitanus. These physicians are actually the physicians mentioned and quoted in the section of Lazarus Riveriusʽ work mentioned above.

Key words : History of nephrology, Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi, Lazarus Riverius, Praxis Medica, Risãla ʽIllat Mathãna

The 29th chief physician of the Ottoman Empire from Dhî al-qaʽda 1171 (July 1758) to Jamãdhî al-awwal 1183 (September 1769), Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi, was born in Istanbul.¹ He received his medical education at a madrasa and studied the religious sciences.^2,3 Kãtib-zãde was one of several palace physicians in 1714.1-3 He became the chief physician after the dismissal of Meḥmed ʽãrif Efendi (1758) and served in this role until his death.^1,3 He became the judge (qãḽî) of İstanbul in 1172 (1759) and the judge of Anatolia in 1174 (1760). Two years later, he was appointed to the position of the military judge (qãdî-ʽasker) of Rumelia. Kãtib-zãde died on Jamãdhî al-awwal ⁷, 1183 (September 8, 1769). He was also a calligrapher and poet and familiar with Arabic and Persian. Kãtip-zãde encouraged Mu?Ṭafã Efendi of Tokat to translate Ibn Sînãʽs the Qanon of Medicine into Turkish.^1-3

Kãtip-zãdeʽs works are as follows: Risãlaʽi awwal fî ḽîq al-?adr (The First Booklet: On Dyspnea/Asthma), Risãlaʽi thãnî fî bayãn awjãʽ al-mafã?il (The Second Booklet: An Explanation of the Pains of Joints), Risãlaʽi thãlith fî bãh-nãma (The Third Booklet: On Aphrodisiacs), Risãlaʽi rãbiʽ fî al-mathãna (The Fourth Booklet: On the Bladder), Risãlaʽi khãmis fî bayãn jadwãr wa ʽanbar (The Fifth Booklet: An Explanation of Zedoary and Amber).^2,4

In his monograph about Kãtip-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi, a famous Turkish medical historian, Süheyl ünver² (1898-1986) states that Kãtip-zãde wrote Risãla fî al-mathãna for a high-ranking state official who he served, and he gives the following information:

“As it is understood from the text, this person fell into a chronic inflammation of the bladder. Before it he had a stone. He [Kãtib-zãde], listing the theories at that time, briefly gives examples of its treatments from the Eastern and Western sources. We do not know how he also acquired them from the Western sources. However, he gets them from Eastern and Muslim scholars such as Ibn Sînã, the owner of Asbãb al-Alãmãt (Najîb al-Dîn al-Samarqandî), and Ibn Mãsawayh. Then, he [Kãtib-zãde] announces that “Lazaro Riberyo?, a Latin physician, who is a respected physician from modern times, praised this decoction in the book he wrote...”

In addition, the following is stated²: “A Latin physician named Sezenus?, a respected physician” – whom he [Kãtib-zade] evaluates his advice as reasonable – ; “Arabic and Latin physicians considered it quite reasonable”; “previous and modern physicians have allowed…” ; “The physician named Korsto?, a potent physician among Austrian physicians, reports that…”; “Emakuva?, a Portuguese physician, reports that…”; “the aforesaid physician reports that…” After providing this information, ünver asks the following questions and then makes the following comments2:

“Does he have a contact with a few of the contemporary Western physicians? If so, in what form, or by what means did he benefit from the Western sources he reported? It is not possible to say anything [about them]. During the reign of Sultan Mustafa III [r. 1757-1774], some works came to us from the West, translations were made from the eastern and western sources and these were used. It is also considered that he [Kãtib-zade] could have a contact and relation with some physicians from the West because of his duty as Chief Physician.”

In this study, the aim was planned in response to ünverʽs explanations above. We aimed to determine which Eastern and Western physicians were mentioned by Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi in his work Risãla ʽillat mathãna (Booklet on Bladder Disease) and to determine whether he benefited from the physicians he mentioned in his treatise and, if so, which works he benefited from.

Materials and Methods

We examined Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendiʽs manuscript titled Risãlaʽi rãbiʽ fî al-mathãna (The Fourth Booklet: On the Bladder). This text is held in the Turkish manuscripts section of the Istanbul University Rare Works Library under the registration number T 3796/4.⁵ ünver² also examined the same manuscript for his monograph.

We determined which Eastern and Western physicians are mentioned by Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi. Finally, a literature search was conducted regarding these physicians and their works. In this context, the Latin work of Lazarus Riverius6 (1589-1655), Praxis Medica, and its English⁷ and French⁸ translations were examined.

In his treatise, Kãtib-zãde first refers to Najîb al-dîn al-Samarqandî and his work al-Asbãb wa l-ʽalãmãt. Indeed, he states, “Asbãb wa ʽalãmãtı ?ãḥibi taḥrîr ider ki” (“Owner of Asbãb wa ʽalãmãt writes that”)⁵ (f.40r) and provides a quotation in Arabic. When reviewing al-Asbãb wa l-ʽalãmãt, we noted that only part of the above sentence is written in the “ḥarqat al-bawl” (“dysuria”) section, and the second half of the sentence is not included.^9,10 However, it was observed that the quoted sentence is included in Al-Kirmãnîʽs commentary on al-Asbãb wa l-ʽalãmãt.¹¹

Kãtib-zãdeʽs second, third, and fourth quotations are all written in Arabic: “şeykh-i reʽîs bu qavãʽidi Qãnūnʽda bu ʽibãret ile taḥrîr itmişler” (“Shaikh raʽîs [Avicenna] wrote these rules with this sentence in the Canon”)⁵ (f.40v), “şeykh er-reʽîs Qãnūnʽda bu ʽibãretle taḥrîr ve beyãn ider ki” (“Shaikh al-raʽîs [Avicenna] writes in the Canon with this sentence and explains that”]⁵ (f.41r), and “şeykh Qãnūnʽda taḥrîr ider ki” (“Shaik [Avicenna] writes in the Canon that”) (f.41v).⁵ These quotations of Kãtib-zãde can be found in al-Qãnūn fî al-Ṭibb of Ibn Sînã (3rd book, 18th fenn, 2nd article), in the chapter titled “Fa?l fî l-ʽilãj” (chapter on the treatment), which is related to the section “Fa?l fî qurūḥ al-kulya” (chapter on kidney ulcers/wounds).^12,13

Kãtib-zãde refers to “ḥükemãʽi ʽArab ve ḥükemãʽi Lãtîn” (“Arabic and Latin physicians”) in his fifth quotation5 (f.43r). After giving the description of the “qur?-i kãknaj” (“lozenge of the winter cherry”), Kãtib-zãde reports that Ibn Mãsawayh described his compound medicine by saying, “Ibn Mãseveyh bu terkîbde çoq mülãḥa?ã itmişdür” (“Ibn Mãsawayh has given much consideration to this composition”)⁵ (f.43r). However, we still have not been able to identify the name of Ibn Mãsawayhʽs work and we noticed during our research that a prescription (aqrã? al-kãknaj [lozenges of winter cherry]) similar to the one given by Kãtip-zãde (qur? kãknaj) was also included in Rhazesʽ al-ḥãwî fî al-Ṭibb with reference to Sãrãbiyūn (Serapion) (VIII century).^14,15

The Western world physician who Kãtib-zade first mentioned in his work is Lazarus Riverius. Kãtib-zãde presents a prescription quoted from him after stating that “LãṬîn ḥükemãsından Lãzãr? Rîbery? müteʽa??irînden bir muʽteber Ṭabîbdür teʽlîf itdügi kitãbda bu maṬbūkhı ghãyetle medḥ itmişdür” (“Lazarus Riverius, a Latin physician, who is a respected physician from modern times, praised this decoction in the book he wrote”)⁵ (f.42r). Kãtib-zãde quoted from Lazarus Riverius for the second time; however, he did not mention his name. Instead, he referred to him as “ḥakîm-i mezbūr” (“the aforesaid physician”)⁵ (f.42v). This prescription is included in the chapter “Dysuria seu ardoris urine curatio” (“Of Dysuria, or Scalding of the Urine” or “De la Dysurie, ou ardeur dʽurine”) in Praxis Medica (Practice of Physick or La pratique de medecine) by Lazarus Riverius.^6-8

He also refers to Fernelius, stating, “LãṬîn ḥükemãsından Fernūs nãm tabîb-i muʽteber bu ʽillete Ṭavuq ?uyını ghãyet medḥ ider” (“A Latin physician named Fernelius, a respected physician, praises chicken broth for this disease”)⁵ (f.42v), and he presents the prescription quoted from him.⁵ Although it was very difficult to match the name of Fernelius with the name of the physician written in the manuscript being studied, this name was identified by the fact that the name and the prescription given are also included in the section titled “Dysuria seu ardoris urine curatio” of Lazarus Riveriusʽ Praxis Medica.^6-8

The next reference is to Forestus, where he states, “Q?rst? nãm tabîb Nemce ḥükemãsından bir muʽteber ḥakîmdür naql ider ki” (“The physician named Forestus, a respected physician among Austrian physicians, reports that”)⁵ (f.43r). He cites a prescription that the said physician had tried on himself.⁵ Although it was also very difficult to match the name of Forestus with the name of the physician appearing in the manuscript being studied, his name was identified by the fact that the name and the prescription given are also included in the section titled “Dysuria seu ardoris urine curatio” of Lazarus Riveriusʽ Praxis Medica.^6-8

After stating, “Portaqãl ḥükemãsından Amãtuvã naql ider ki” (“Amatus, a Portuguese physician, reports that”)⁵ (f.43v), Kãtib-zãde5 gives a prescription by referring to him. Kãtib-zãde refers to Amatus Lusitanus for the second time but does not mention his name. Instead, he refers to him as “mezbūr Ṭabîb naql ider ki” (“the aforesaid physician reports that”)⁵ (f.43v). The name of Amatus was easier to match with the name written in the manuscript than the other names. In addition, both this name and the prescription given in the section titled “Dysuria seu ardoris urine curatio” of Lazarus Riveriusʽ Praxis Medica confirmed this identification.^6-8 In addition, there is a statement that Amatus is from Lusitania in the Latin⁶ and English⁷ versions, although in the French version as “Aymé de Portugal.”⁸

Discussion and Conclusions

In the period referred to as “Recognition of Western Medicine and Translation” during the Ottoman Empire (1730-1827), some physicians, including ʽömer şifãʽî (died 1742), ʽAlî Münşî (died 1733), ʽAbbãs Vesîm (died 1760), ?ubhî-zãde ʽAbd al-ʽazîz (died 1783), and Shãnî-zãde ʽAtã-Allãh (1771-1826), translated several medical texts written in the West into Turkish. Some also composed their own works based on these Western works.¹⁶

Kãtip-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi was the chief physician (1758-1769) during the reign of Sultan Mustafa III (1757-1769) and belonged to the period of the “Recognition of Western Medicine and Translation.”¹⁶ However, in the information provided about him by prominent Turkish medical historians, such as Bedi N. şehsuvaroğlu4 (1914-1977) and Ali Haydar Bayat^1,13 (1941-2006), there is no explanation of Kãtip-zãde translating anything from Western medical works or composing a work by making use of them.

Regarding ünverʽs questions and comments in his monograph, we may assert that Western physicians mentioned and quoted by Kãtib-zãde in his work as Lazaro Riberyo, Sezenus, Korsto, and Amakuva correspond to Lazarus Riverius (1589-1655), Ioannes Fernelius (1497-1558), Petrus Forestus (1521-1597), and Amatus Lusitanus (1561-1568), respectively. Considering the period during which Kãtib-zãde lived, it was not possible for him to have had any personal contact with the physicians he mentioned.

While preparing his work, Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi made use of Ibn Sînãʽs al-Qãnūn fî al-Ṭibb and the commentary on Najîb al-dîn al-Samarqandîʽs al-Asbãb wa l-ʽalamãt written by al-Kirmãnî as Eastern sources. As for Western sources, he mainly benefited from Lazarus Riveriusʽ Praxis Medica, specifically the part of this book titled “Dysuria seu ardoris urine curatio.” It was also noted that the physicians Ioannes Fernelius, Petrus Forestus, and Amatus Lusitanus, whose names are mentioned by Kãtib-zãde Meḥmed Refîʽ Efendi, are actually mentioned and quoted in this part of Praxis Medica written by Lazarus Riverius. It is also possible to conclude that Kãtib-zãde made use of the French and/or Latin edition of Lazarus Riveriusʽ work.

Volume: 21 Issue: 6 June 2023 - Supplement - 2

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