In the 18th AD, as a result of endless wars between local khanates (small kingdoms in Azerbaijan), many hospitals and apothecaries were ruined, and medicine declined. In this period, Azerbaijan experienced deep political, economical and cultural crisis. Therefore, in the beginning of the 19^th century, northern part of Azerbaijan (present-day Azerbaijan Republic) was easily conquered by Russian army, while the southern part (present-day Iranian Azerbaijan) was ruled by Iran. This division of Azerbaijan was confirmed by the Gulistan and Turkmenchay treatises which were signed between Russia and Iran.

Since then, in Northern (Russian) Azerbaijan began the intensive process of Europeization in all spheres of life, science, culture and healthcare. During the Russian rule in 1813-1918, Western clinics were opened throughout the country, and European medicine began to spread quickly. However, traditional medicine did not disappear, since in this period there were both Oriental and European clinics and apothecaries in Azerbaijan.

Hasan bey Zardabi (1837-1907) was the Azerbaijani teacher and scholar who tried to introduce the Western medicine, agriculture and science in Azerbaijan. With this purpose he founded the scientific-popular newspaper in Azeri entitled “Akinchi” (Agrarian, 1875), where he discussed different scientific and social issues. In 1860s, Zardabi started to read lectures on Darwinism in colleges of Baku and, therefore, was terrified by the religious and conservative circles. However, he did not stop his lectures. Zardabi was the author by the book “Hygiene” and numerous articles on medical issues.

Together with his assistant Muhammad Haji Balakanli, Zardabi carried out the selection works to improve local species of wheat and mulberry. He won numerous prizes at the Caucasian Agricultural Exhibitions. Since modern medical service was not available in remote villages, Zardabi believed that it is necessary to support folk healers. He wrote: “It is necessary to create favorable opportunities for educated folk healers and for those who are named “Asian doctors”, because they are the only helpers of suffering persons” (“Kaspi” newspaper, No 234, 25 October, 1886).

However, the famous Azerbaijani writer Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli (1887-1943) wrote a satiric novel entitled “Hakim” (“Doctor”, 1910s) where he ironically described folk doctors and traditional healing practices. Curiously, the father of Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli, Mirbaba Mirabdulla oglu, was a pharmacist himself and owned a traditional Oriental apothecary (Attar Dukani) in the town of Aghdam. There were 142 kinds of natural remedies including about 100 species of herbs in his apothecary.

The scientific study of the history of medicine in Azerbaijan started from the 19th century. In 1893, the Azerbaijani scholar Abdul Khalig Akhundov (1866-1924) translated the book “Kitab al-Adwiyya” by the famous medieval pharmacist Abu Mansur al-Harawi (10th AD) from Arabic into German and defended a doctoral dissertation in this field (Achundov Abdul-Chalig. Die pharmacologichen Grundsaetze des Abu Mansur Muwaffak bin Ali Harawi. Halle, 1893). Besides, Dr.Nariman Najaf oglu Narimanov (1870-1925) wrote the book “Medicine and Islam” (Baku, 1910) where he briefly touched some problems of the history of medicine.

In 1895, Baku Medical Society was created. Dr. Mammad Reza Vekilov (1864-1927), Dr. Abdul Khalig Akhundov (1866-1924), Dr. Kerim-bey Mehmandarov (1854-1929) and others were active members of this society During 1900-1910, a number of clinics and apothecaries were founded not only in large cities (Baku, Canja), but also in little towns (Shusha, Aghdam, Shaki, etc.) and in some villages of Azerbaijan. For example, Mammad Reza Vekilov founded 10 polyclinics (out patients' clinics) in Baku, while Dr. Mehmandarov created the first polyclinic in the town of Aghdam.

However, traditional healers continued to benefit from the medieval medical treatises. These treatises were copied by hand by calligraphers in the second half of the 19th century and even in the beginning of the 20th century. A number of these manuscripts are kept in the Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Many treatises on folk medicine entitled “Tibb Risalesi” (Treatise on Medicine”) were compiled and copied in this period. Most of them are herbal prescriptions against different diseases.

However, books of famous medieval physicians were copied as well. For example, “Tibbi-Mansuri” by Razi was copied and partially translated into Azeri in 1936. Azerbaijani physicians and intellectuals owned extensive collections of medieval medical manuscript which date back to the 12th - 16th centuries AD. One of the most famous physicians was Muhammad Qulu Gaibzadeh Karabagi, whose collection is now treasured in Baku's Institute of Manuscript. Other famous collectioner was Bahman-Mirza Qajar who owned many medieval medical treatises. In 1913 AD, there were hundreds of Oriental drugstories and approximately 50 European apothecaries in Azerbaijan.

Traditional drugstores sold medicines of herbal, animal and mineral origin which are described in medieval books by Avicenna, Razi, etc. They also bargained spices like saffron, anise and Eastern perfumes (amber, musk, spermaceti, rose oil, etc), and therefore, were called in Azeri “Attar dukani” (Perfumery Store). Western chemical medicines were available mostly in the European apothecaries opened by Azeri, Russian, German and Jewish pharmacists.

Many talented physicians lived in Azerbaijan in this period. One of them, Abbas Sahhat (1874-1918) had a clinic in Shamakhi. He was not only a famous oculist, but also wrote verses in Azeri Turkic. His verses are still popular in our country. Other famous doctor, Mirza Nasrullah Mirza Ali oglu lived in Nakhichevan. During the epidemy of cholera in Nakhichevan in 1847, he treated the Azeri and Armenian patients for free. Keble Gaffar and Molla Muhammad Reza Melikov were famous traditional healers in Nakhchivan.

After collapse of the Russian Empire in 1918, Azerbaijan regained its independence, and the first Ministry of Health was established by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). Musa bey Rafiyev was appointed the Minister of Healthcare.

In 1919, according to decision of the Azerbaijani Parliament, the Baku State University with Medical Department was founded, and the courses on the history of medicine were established. The prime-minister of Azerbaijan Fatali-khan Khoyski attempted to improve situation with healthcare. During short period, many new clinics and apothecaries were opened throughout the country. For example, from 1919 to 1920, 10 new modern apothecaries were founded in the Ganja province of Azerbaijan.

However, ADR did not live long. In 28 April 1920, with uprising of local Azerbaijani communists supported by invasion of the 11th Russian Red Army, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic collapsed and Soviet power was established in the coutry. During 1920-1922 Soviet Azerbaijan formally remained the independent state, but it was under total control of the Soviet Russia. In 1922, Azerbaijan officially joined to the USSR as the federative Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

In 1920, Dr. Nariman Najaf oglu Narimanov, a physician, was elected the head, (prime minister) of the government of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, while Dr. Alakbar Kazimov (1889-1937) was the first Comissar (minister) of Healthcare. In 1921, Dr. Alakbar Kazimov was replaced by Dr. Movsum Najmaddin oglu Gadirli, who headed the Ministry of Healthcare of Azerbaijan from 1921 to 1935. Alakbar Kazimov was appointed the Head of the Society of Red Crescent of Azerbaijan.

In 1926, by the decision of M.Gadirli the Pharmacological College was founded in Baku. During 1919-1930, a total of 1300 students graduated from the Medical Department of the Baku State University. It was not sufficient for the country and, therefore, in 1930 the Azerbaijan Medical University was founded. Professor Alibey Gulubey oglu Alibeyov (1878-1964) was appointed a head of the Department of the History of Medicine. One of famous rectors of this University was Aziz Aliyev. In 1937, the Baku Pharmacological Instıtute was created. Professor Aziz Aliyev and his assistant Professor Ahad Hassanov greatly contributed to development of this Institute. Assistant Prof. Asaf Rustamov conducted works on history of pharmacy and is the author of the book “History of Pharmacy in Azerbaijan,” and many other works where he analyzed medieval medical and pharmacological manuscripts of our country.

Scientific research in the field of medicine and creation of new textbooks in Azeri were carried out under leadership of Professor Mirasadulla Miralasgar oglu Mirgasimov, who was born in Baku in 1883 and graduated from the Odessa University in 1913. During 1930-1958, he was the head of the Depatment of Clinical Surgery in the Azerbaijan Medical University. In 1920-1930, new modern textbooks for medical students in Azeri were published. Prof. Mirasadulla Mirgasimov was elected the President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Professor Mustafa Agabey oglu Topchubashov deeply contributed to development of sirgery in Azerbaijan. This scholar was born in 1895 in Baku. In 1919, he graduated from the Kiev University and started to work at the Medical Department of the Baku State University. Topchubashov was the author of numerous research works in the field of neurosurgery, urology, traumathology and anesthesiology. He was elected the Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the Honorary Chairman of the International Society of Urologists.

Between 1920-1940, hundreds of new advanced clinics and medical colleges were established throughout the country, and Azerbaijan Medical Museum was opened in Baku.

It was a brief historical review which features the history of medicine in Azerbaijan from ancient times to 1940.

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