Review of Medical Literature Stored in Monasteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Background: The Organized health care during Ottoman Empire was poor, and the population of Bosnia looked to the clergy of all denominations, among which the Franciscans play a significant role, for a cure for their ailments, both mental and physical. The Franciscan motto of living, not only for yourself but also for others was, also, reflected in the Bosnian Franciscans’ provision of medical services to people. Objective: The aim of this article was to show, based on the available literature, the development of medicine and pharmacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the medieval period until the Second World War with description methods of treatment, medicinal forms and preparations that were used in the mentioned period. Methods: The subject of this study was the development of medicine and pharmacy in the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the 14th century until the Second World War. In order to achieve the set goals, a) Retreival of professional and scientific literature and b) Search of scientific databases and web pages on the Internet that offer adequate and relevant data and historical facts related to the subject of studies were carried out. Most of the facts are covered in previously published articles by the author and deposited in the PubMed and PubMed Central databases, as well as in books and monographs by the author of this text. Results and Discussion: In the Middle Ages, folk medicine was present, in which herbalists looked for medicines in certain plant and animal species. In the 13th century, Bosnia was settled by the Franciscans, who permanently marked the development of medicine and pharmacy. They are educated at prestigious universities abroad, from where they bring their knowledge, skills and recipes and write them in books, which are called ljekaruse (medicine books). Every historical period brought some changes for medicine and pharmacy, so the Ottoman Empire brought customs of frequent cleaning, public fountains and hammams were built. During the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the first hospitals and pharmacies were established, and laws on pharmacy activity were introduced. Written documents on the history of the medicine and pharmacy development in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly found in the libraries of monasteries, and a significant number of them are also in the libraries of madrasas, and the National and University Librarie in Sarajevo and the former Institute of Hygiene in Sarajevo. Conclusion: In connection with the medical and pharmacy practice of the Bosnian Franciscans, the question of the various medical records that they created, which helped them in their health efforts, stands out. First of all, we are talking about numerous medicinal books, so called ”ljekaruse”. On the soil of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were many such “ljekarusa” who mostly grew up at the sources of national experience. In those books, the recipes are mostly based on the use of medicinal herbs. Historians of medicine believe that these medicinal books represent the cultural and historical significance of our regions