Transcription and evaluation of Hekim Ismail Pasha's cholera risales

This thesis focuses on the transcription and analysis of an important work by one of the prominent physicians of the Ottoman Empire, Ismail Pasha, titled "Kolera Risalesi" (The Cholera Treatise). The study examines the effects of cholera, which became a global pandemic in the 19th century, on the Ottoman Empire, as well as quarantine measures taken during this period and Ismail Pasha's efforts to educate the public about the disease. The first chapter of this two-part thesis provides a detailed exploration of the definition, history, and spread of cholera in the Ottoman Empire. This research offers significant insights into the Ottoman Empire's efforts and health policies in response to cholera outbreaks. The author of the risale, Ismail Pasha, was educated in modern European medicine and was known for his contributions to the healthcare system during his tenure as the Minister of Health. In the second chapter, the transcription of "Kolera Risalesi" is presented, and the treatment methods mentioned in the work are analyzed. The risale, written during the 1847 cholera epidemic under the command of Sultan Abdulmecid, consists of five main sections that address topics such as the transmission routes of cholera, factors that weaken the human body, preventive methods, scientific and rational approaches to combatting the disease, and traditional treatments. This thesis provides insight into the health conditions of the era and the Ottoman Empire's policies in combating epidemic diseases. Through this transcription, Ismail Pasha's views can be compared with other contemporary cholera risales and medical writings, allowing for an assessment of his unique contributions. The transcription also facilitates the analysis of medical terms in Ottoman Turkish and their modern medical equivalents. Keywords: History, Ottoman Empire, Kolera Risalesi, Doctor Ismail Pasha, Pandemic.