Dr. İhsan Sami (Garan) Bey’s Detections and Reflections on the 1911 Bursa Cholera

Erol Karcı

Article Details

Dr. İhsan Sami (Garan) Bey’s Detections and Reflections on the 1911 Bursa Cholera

Authors:

Erol Karcı

Publisher:

Mersin University

Main Topics:

Osmanlı Sosyoekonomik Tarihi | Çevre Tarihi

Journal:

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 2, pp.476-490

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

5/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348931

pISSN:

1309-8004

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Objective: The aim of this study is to introduce Dr. İhsan Sami Bey, who was sent to Bursa during the 1911 cholera epidemic, and to provide information about the allegations in his report and the investigation against these allegations. Method: Conducted between 1 December 2024 and 3 March 2025, this study employed the classical method used in historical research. In this framework, the documents in different classifications of the Ottoman and Republican Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey State Archives Presidency and the existing literature on the subject were utilised. Findings: Cholera is an indigenous disease of the Indian geography. Cholera, which had 6 major pandemics in the XIXth century, made its first outbreak in the Ottoman Empire in 1822. The city of Bursa, which was the centre of Hüdavendigar Vilayet in the Ottoman administrative organisation, was also exposed to cholera epidemics in the historical process. The 1911 cholera outbreak in Bursa started on 27 June. Bacteriologist Dr. İhsan Sami Bey was sent to the city to investigate the nature of cholera, which was invasive during the epidemic, and to make bacteriological examinations on the water. The report written by him made important claims that could cause cholera to increase its impact in the region. The central government sent Ali Seydi Bey, Inspector of Civil Administration, to the region to investigate these allegations. Conclusion: In the 1911 cholera epidemic in Bursa, 440 cases were seen and 110 of them resulted in death. The allegations in Dr. İhsan Sami Beys report, such as the governors disbelief in the existence of cholera, his scolding of doctors, cordonons, distribution of rations, contamination of water, preachers making negative suggestions to the public, some doctors not informing the government about cholera patients and other allegations, are very important. Taking the report into consideration, the central government sent Mülkiye Inspector Ali Seydi Bey to Bursa to investigate these allegations. This attitude is important in terms of showing the states sensitivity towards public health. However, Ali Seydi Beys correspondence regarding the allegations contains answers that contradict the report.

 Objective: The aim of this study is to introduce Dr. İhsan Sami Bey, who was sent to Bursa during the 1911 cholera epidemic, and to provide information about the allegations in his report and the investigation against these allegations. Method: Conducted between 1 December 2024 and 3 March 2025, this study employed the classical method used in historical research. In this framework, the documents in different classifications of the Ottoman and Republican Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey State Archives Presidency and the existing literature on the subject were utilised. Findings: Cholera is an indigenous disease of the Indian geography. Cholera, which had 6 major pandemics in the XIXth century, made its first outbreak in the Ottoman Empire in 1822. The city of Bursa, which was the centre of Hüdavendigar Vilayet in the Ottoman administrative organisation, was also exposed to cholera epidemics in the historical process. The 1911 cholera outbreak in Bursa started on 27 June. Bacteriologist Dr. İhsan Sami Bey was sent to the city to investigate the nature of cholera, which was invasive during the epidemic, and to make bacteriological examinations on the water. The report written by him made important claims that could cause cholera to increase its impact in the region. The central government sent Ali Seydi Bey, Inspector of Civil Administration, to the region to investigate these allegations. Conclusion: In the 1911 cholera epidemic in Bursa, 440 cases were seen and 110 of them resulted in death. The allegations in Dr. İhsan Sami Beys report, such as the governors disbelief in the existence of cholera, his scolding of doctors, cordonons, distribution of rations, contamination of water, preachers making negative suggestions to the public, some doctors not informing the government about cholera patients and other allegations, are very important. Taking the report into consideration, the central government sent Mülkiye Inspector Ali Seydi Bey to Bursa to investigate these allegations. This attitude is important in terms of showing the states sensitivity towards public health. However, Ali Seydi Beys correspondence regarding the allegations contains answers that contradict the report.

 Objective: The aim of this study is to introduce Dr. İhsan Sami Bey, who was sent to Bursa during the 1911 cholera epidemic, and to provide information about the allegations in his report and the investigation against these allegations. Method: Conducted between 1 December 2024 and 3 March 2025, this study employed the classical method used in historical research. In this framework, the documents in different classifications of the Ottoman and Republican Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey State Archives Presidency and the existing literature on the subject were utilised. Findings: Cholera is an indigenous disease of the Indian geography. Cholera, which had 6 major pandemics in the XIXth century, made its first outbreak in the Ottoman Empire in 1822. The city of Bursa, which was the centre of Hüdavendigar Vilayet in the Ottoman administrative organisation, was also exposed to cholera epidemics in the historical process. The 1911 cholera outbreak in Bursa started on 27 June. Bacteriologist Dr. İhsan Sami Bey was sent to the city to investigate the nature of cholera, which was invasive during the epidemic, and to make bacteriological examinations on the water. The report written by him made important claims that could cause cholera to increase its impact in the region. The central government sent Ali Seydi Bey, Inspector of Civil Administration, to the region to investigate these allegations. Conclusion: In the 1911 cholera epidemic in Bursa, 440 cases were seen and 110 of them resulted in death. The allegations in Dr. İhsan Sami Beys report, such as the governors disbelief in the existence of cholera, his scolding of doctors, cordonons, distribution of rations, contamination of water, preachers making negative suggestions to the public, some doctors not informing the government about cholera patients and other allegations, are very important. Taking the report into consideration, the central government sent Mülkiye Inspector Ali Seydi Bey to Bursa to investigate these allegations. This attitude is important in terms of showing the states sensitivity towards public health. However, Ali Seydi Beys correspondence regarding the allegations contains answers that contradict the report.

 Amaç: Bu çalışmada 1911 kolera salgını sırasında Bursaya gönderilen Dr. İhsan Sami Beyi tanıtmak ve raporunda yer alan iddialar ile bu iddialara karşı yapılan inceleme hakkında bilgi vermek amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: 1 Aralık 2024-3 Mart 2025 tarihleri arasında yapılan bu çalışmada tarih araştırmalarında kullanılan klasik yöntem kullanılmıştır. Bu çerçevede T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı bünyesindeki Osmanlı ve Cumhuriyet Arşivinin farklı tasniflerindeki belgelerden ve konuyla ilgili mevcut literatürden yararlanılmıştır. Bulgular: Kolera Hindistan coğrafyasının yerli hastalığıdır. XIX. yüzyılda 6 büyük pandemi yapan kolera, Osmanlı Devletindeki ilk salgınını 1822de yapmıştır. Osmanlı idari teşkilatlanmasında Hüdavendigar Vilayetinin merkezi olan Bursa şehri de tarihsel süreç içerisinde kolera salgınlarına maruz kalmıştır. Bursada 1911 kolerası 27 Haziranda başlamıştır. Salgın sırasında istilacı şekilde hüküm süren koleranın mahiyetini araştırmak ve sular hakkında bakteriyolojik incelemelerde bulunmak için bakteriyolog Dr. İhsan Sami Bey şehre gönderilmiştir. Onun tarafından kaleme alınan rapor koleranın bölgedeki etkisini artırmasına neden olabilecek önemli iddialara sahiptir. Merkezi hükümet bu iddiaları araştırmak için bölgeye Mülkiye Müfettişi Ali Seydi Beyi göndermiştir. Sonuç: Bursada 1911 kolera salgınında 440 vaka görülmüş ve bunların 110nu ölümle neticelenmiştir. Dr. İhsan Sami Beyin raporunda yer alan valinin koleranın varlığına inanmaması, doktorları azarlaması, kordonlar, erzak dağıtımı, suların kirliliği, vaizlerin halka olumsuz telkinlerde bulunması, bazı doktorların kolera hastalarını hükümete haber vermemesi ve diğer iddialar oldukça önemlidir. Raporu dikkate alan merkezi hükümet bu iddiaları araştırması için Mülkiye Müfettişi Ali Seydi Beyi Bursaya göndermiştir. Bu tavır devletin kamu sağlığı konusundaki hassasiyetini göstermesi bakımından önemlidir. Ancak Ali Seydi Beyin iddialara ilişkin yapmış olduğu yazışmalarda rapor ile çelişen cevaplar bulunmaktadır.

Article Details

Dr. İhsan Sami (Garan) Bey’s Detections and Reflections on the 1911 Bursa Cholera

Authors:

Erol Karcı

Publisher:

Mersin University

Main Topics:

Osmanlı Sosyoekonomik Tarihi | Çevre Tarihi

Journal:

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 2, pp.476-490

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

5/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348931

pISSN:

1309-8004

Ottoman Empire

Hüdavendigar

Bursa

Cholera

Dr. İhsan SamiOsmanlı Devleti

Hüdavendigar

Bursa

Kolera

Dr. İhsan Sami

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Erol Karcı

Publisher: Mersin University

Main Topics: Osmanlı Sosyoekonomik Tarihi | Çevre Tarihi

Journal: Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 2, pp.476-490

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 5/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348931

pISSN: 1309-8004

Issues

Authors:

Erol Karcı

Publisher:

Mersin University

Main Topics:

Osmanlı Sosyoekonomik Tarihi | Çevre Tarihi

Journal:

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 2, pp.476-490

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

5/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348931

pISSN:

1309-8004