Tuberculosis in Ottoman society (end of 19th century–beginning of 20th century)

Known as consumption among the public, tuberculosis begins when microbes named tuberculosis bacilli enter the body and form buds of tubers. Struggle agains ttuberculosis in Ottoman Statestarted in 1895 and voluntary associations against the disease were established in 1918. During the reign of Abdul Hamid II, whose father and grandfather died of tuberculosis, various attempts were made to fight the disease. Tuberculosis studies in Ottoman State started a few years after Robert Koch discovered the tuberculosis bacilli in 1882. His studies on tuberculosis were followed and tuberculin production and application were conducted in Ottoman State, too. BCG vaccine was used in 1921 to prevent tuberculosis. Mahmud II had a special hospital built forthose with tuberculosis. Upon the order of Abdul Hamid II, Imperial School of Medicine was trained about tuberculosis. Among important studies was Dr Nazım Şerafettin's precautions against tuberculosis and Dr Avlonitis' suggestion to found an association to fight tuberculosis was met with enthusiasm. Suggestions included giving cuspidorst to the patients of tuberculosis in hospitals and penal institutions. After the International Tuberculosis Conference in 1906, Dr Besim Ömer conducted studies in İstanbul and İzmir to determine the morbidity. The first children's sanatorium was established in Şişli Etfal Hospital in 1906 for the children with tuberculosis. A number of associations were founded to fight the disease. Ottoman Society forthe Struggle against Tuberculosis was established in 1918. İzmir Society for the Struggle against Tuberculosis was established in 1923 and played a key role in the fight against the disease with the branches and dispensaries it started in othercities. The third institution to fight tuberculosis was founded in Balıkesir in 2 October 1923. The fourth would be İstanbul Society forthe Struggle against Tuberculosis (1927). One of the common objectives of these institution sestablished to fight tuberculosis was to informand educate the communitya bout the disease. Besides these actions focused on protection from tuberculosis, one of the objectives of the associations was to make attempts to found tuberculosis hospitals, sanatoriums and dispensaries. Key figures who conducted studies against tuberculosis in our country were Dr. Besim Ömer, Dr.Tevfik Salim Sağlam, Dr.Behçet Uz, Dr.Nusret Karasu. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis Bacilli, BCG Vaccine, Societies forthe Struggle Against Tuberculosis