The Important Witness of the Malaria Struggle in Turkey: Milasli Ismail Hakki and His Pamphlet Entitled "Who Knows What About Malaria?"

Abstract

Objective: One of the malaria struggle methods in Turkey was informing public and professionals by publications. The aim of this study was to assess malaria struggle works at first years of the Turkish republician era in the perspective of a book entitled 'Who Knows What About Malaria?' by Milasli Ismail Hakki in terms of history of medicine. Methods: Library catalogues were reviewed, the book dated 1925 was written in a plain language was transcribed from Ottoman alphabet into Latin alphabet and was reviewed. Results: Between the 1910, in which it was started to distribute quinine free of charge in Ottoman Empire, and 1926, in which Law on Malaria Warfare was introduced, at least ten books about malaria were published. Milasli Ismail Hakki. two book about malaria were published in 1910, and in 1925. In the second book, Ismail Hakki introduced the steps of malaria struggle, responsibilities of the public, intellectuals-including physicians and specialists-, and the state. Conclusion: Milasli Ismail Hakki a physician who wrote his first medical book in the beginning of Ottoman malaria struggle and last book in the beginning of organized malaria struggle in the republican era was an important witness of the malaria struggle in Turkey. His book on question in which responsibilities of public, intellectuals including general practitioners and specialist physicians and state is significant since it emphasize a holistic approach for fighting against epidemics, using persuasive arguments considering public values, and reflects the remarkable attitude of a physician who actively participated in determination of state policies.