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Content analysis and re-reading of an unknown Qajar-Era manuscript titled
“Risala dar Waba”(Treatise on Cholera)
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Javad Alipoor Silab *   |
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Abstract: (361 Views) |
Cholera has been one of the most devastating infectious diseases in Iranian history, particularly during the Qajar period, leaving profound impacts on public health, hygiene, and social structures. Numerous reports from this era highlight the widespread outbreaks and high mortality caused by the disease. Prior to the Qajar era, both cognitive (etiological) approaches and behavioral (preventive measures and therapeutic methods) were framed within the system of humoral medicine, and cholera was also understood and treated accordingly. However, the Qajar period marked the beginning of the introduction of modern medical practices into Iran. One of the most significant means of familiarizing physicians and society with the efficacy of these new methods was the translation of treatises on infectious diseases. The earliest translations addressed smallpox, and subsequently, cholera became a focus of attention. A notable example is the “Risala dar Waba” (Treatise on Cholera), translated into Persian during the reign of Muhammad Shah Qajar by Prince Muhammad Hossein ibn Isa. This work not only presents classifications of cholera, clinical symptoms, and prevalent treatments in humoral medicine, but also introduces modern preventive and therapeutic approaches undertaken by Western physicians. The government’s efforts, coupled with the awareness raised through such translations, appear to have paved the way for the gradual incorporation of Western medicine into Iran, ultimately improving the management of infectious diseases. This study not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the history of medicine in Iran but also demonstrates how scientific and cultural exchange between the East and the West played a crucial role in the development of medical knowledge. |
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| Keywords: Cholera, History of Medicine, Therapeutics |
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Memorial article: Original R.(History of medicine) |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/09/15 | Accepted: 2026/05/11
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