ANNALS OF ANATOMY The role of Austrian physicians and Prof. Joseph Hyrtl (1810-1894) on modernization of Ottoman-Turkish medicine Giirsel Ortu~, Ferruh Yiicei, and Hakan Ay Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Osmangazi University, TR-26480 Eski~ehir, Turkey Summary: Medical schools have a long history in Otto- man-Turkish medical education. At Ottoman medical schools (medreses), education has been given to students regularly. But because of social dogma and oppression of religion on the science of human anatomy they could not get a chance to improve for centuries. Traditionally, Otto- man-Turkish medical education was shaped under the in- fluence of Galenos (129-200) and Avicenna (980-1037). These influences continued until the beginning of the 19th century. In this period, Avicenna's most famous med- ical book "Kanun-1 fit-tip" was a main anatomy textbook in medical education of the eleventh century. Moderniza- tion of educational systems in the Ottoman Empire started during the reign of Sultan Selim the 3rd (1789- 1807) and modern anatomy in Ottoman-Turkish Medicine has flourished following the Austrian physicians. Today's Department of Anatomy at Istanbul Medical School of the Istanbul University is a continuation of Galatasaray Medical School which was the first medical school achiev- ing the western educational level. Key words: Ottoman-Turkish medicine - History of anat- omy Introduction Medical schools have a long history in Ottoman-Turkish medical education. At Ottoman medical schools (medres- es), education has been given to students regularly. But Correspondence to: G. Ortu~, R K. 60 Merkez Fir, TR-26010 Eski}ehir, Turkey E-mail: gortug@ogu.edu.tr because of social dogma and oppression of religion on the science of human anatomy they could not get a chance to improve for centuries (Gtirkan 1967; Adivar 1970; Ortu~ 1982, 1988; Erimo~lu 1988). However, in some part of this period it was emphasized that the science of anatomy is a keystone in medical education and even an anatomical atlas had been published (~ehsu- varo~lu 1952; Uzluk 1967; Kahya 1972; Ortu~ 1982, 1988). But the study of anatomy still has not flourished. Traditionally, Ottoman-Turkish medical education was shaped under the influence of Galenos (129-200) and Avicenna (980-1037) (Aklncl 1959, 1962; Gtirkan 1967; Adlvar 1970; Ortu~ 1982; Erimo~lu 1988). These influ- ences continued until the beginning of 19th century. In this period, Avicenna's most famous medical book "Ka- nun-1 fit-tip" was a main anatomy textbook in medical education from the eleventh century (Ortu~ 1982). Modernization effords in Ottoman-Turkish medicine Modernization of educational systems in Ottoman Em- pire started during the reign of Sultan Selim the 3rd (1789-1807). Modernization of medical education occu- pies an important part of these modernization efforts. Sultan Selim the 3rd, issued a decree for establishment of a medical school with western standards. During these at- tempts, a medical education relying mostly on laboratory experimentation and observation was aimed for and even Dimitrasko Moroz, a Greek of Turkish nationality, was given permission by Sultan Selim the 3rd to open a medi- cal school and do cadaver dissection (Onver and Belger 1940; Sehsuvaro~lu 1956; Aklncl 1962; Gtirkan 1967; Uzluk 1967; Sehsuvaro~lu 1969; Adwar 1970; Ortu~ 1982, 1988; Erimo~lu 1988). However, laboratory practice and anatomical dissection were not included in the Anatomy Ann Anat (2003) 185:593-596 © Urban & Fischer Verlag http:llwww.urbanfischer.deljournalslannanat 0940-9602/03/185/6-593 $15.00/0