Sabuncuoğlu Şerafeddin

Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu
Illustration from the Cerrahiyyetu'l-Haniyye, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu 15th-century medicine book
Born	1385
Died	1468 (aged 82–83)
Nationality	Ottoman
Known for	Surgical atlas
Scientific career
Fields	Surgeon physician

Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468) (

Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu lived during the 15th century in Amasya. During the early period of the Ottoman Empire, Amasya was a center of commerce, culture, and arts. During this period, Serafeddin Sabuncuoglu practiced medicine in Amasya Hospital, which was built in 1308.

Sabuncuoğlu was the author of the Cerrahiyyetu'l-Haniyye (Imperial Surgery), the first illustrated surgical

In these treatments, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu used his own observations from experimenting with animals to develop new treatments.[4] Successful treatments were then performed on humans. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu would only transcribe and illustrate the treatments after he completed the treatments himself.^[4] He would even test therapeutic treatments on himself before applying them on patients.^[10] Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was also aware of sepsis. In order to prevent the spread of a pathogen, he would wear a surgical attire that involved wine and olive oil as antiseptics.^[4] In one such treatment, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu discussed a breast cancer treatment in which the suggested treatment was to surgically remove the small cancers in their early stage.^[9] Many of these treatments in Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye have illustrations accompanied next to them, which ensure that the intended audience are able to follow the treatment correctly. Every illustration contains a distinct physician and patient along with the tools used in the treatment.

In Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu treatment of epilepsy, he used the technique of skull cauterization as a way of purifying the body from evil spirits.^[4] This demonstrates the religious and incomplete understanding of some of the medical issues that were prevalent in the past. This was evident in the recovery phase of his epilepsy treatment where he states, “you’ll have to give the patient the following foods to enable the dehydration in order that the patient can recover, with the permission of Allah.”^[4] Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu recommended using a non-invasive and less intense treatment first before moving on to a stronger treatment. In his epilepsy treatment, herbal mixtures were recommended to be used first, then a cauterization on the forehead could be used if the herbal mixtures did not work.^[4] Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was also careful in not over-treating a patient. In Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu's description and diagnosis of spinal dislocations, he mentions how swelling after the treatment is normal and that repeating the treatment could lead to the death of the patient.^[8]

Medical Innovations

Serafeddin Sabuncuoglu was one of the first to describe hydrocephalic drainage techniques in children. However, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu did not have specific descriptions and understanding of hydrocephalus. It was after 150 years from Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu's initial description and diagnosis that Marco Aurelio Severino would officially describe and classify this procedure.^[3] He also pioneered the usage of a wooden splint after hand surgery.^[4] An important observation that Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu made in Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye was that a fast delivery of a baby can occur if the patient holds their breath and exerts a strong force.^[10] He recommended herbal drugs that would cause the patient to sneeze in order to exert a stronger force.^[10] Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu also describes complications that occur during pregnancy and how to prevent the death of the mother. His main techniques involve the insertion of a hook on a dead fetus to extract the baby out of the mother.^[10] Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu also suggested crushing the fetus’ skull with the “Mi dah” instrument if the hydrocephaly was causing the obstruction.^[10]

See also

• Al-Zahrawi
• Amirdovlat of Amasia

References

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