Medicine and the population of Turkestan: traditions and innovations (late 19th – early 20th centuries)

Abstract

The article deals with the history of medicine in Turkestan of the late 19th – early 20th centuries in the context of traditions and innovations in the provision of healthcare to the Muslim population of the region. Using data from the three provinces of the Turkestan Governor General – Samarkand, Syrdarya, and Fergana, the issues of applying traditional medicine methods, as well as the innovations that have emerged in healthcare, are analyzed. The issues of work outpatient clinics created for the region’s local population, their financial situation, and problems of their practice are considered separately. Moreover, the article explores the issues related to the provision of inpatient healthcare to the population, private medical practice of Russian doctors and the attitude of the local population towards Russian doctors. In addition, issues related to providing healthcare to Muslim women in Turkestan and the role of Russian medical doctors and nurses are discussed.

Keywords

• disease
• female doctors
• health
• in-patient department
• muslims
• medicine
• obstetrics
• outpatient clinic
• prevention
• public health
• private medical institutions
• russian empire
• sanitation
• surgery
• traditional medicine
• turkestan