1932. 8vo, pp. 56, with 52 text illustrations, portraits, half-tones and diagrams; somewhat browned throughout due to paper quality, with some spotting and staining, pp. 45-48 with marginal nicks to fore-edge but no loss, with old accession label at head of title-page; stapled as issued in the original blue card wrappers, head and tail of spine worn with some minor loss, wrappers sunned and faded, with some further spotting, rear hinge cracked but holding, a little dog-eared with some light edgewear, and discrete tape repairs on inside front cover. Uncommon first edition of this history of gynaecology, the work of the noted Turkish physician, and later social democratic politician, Besim Ömer (later adopting the surname Akalin 1862-1940). Ömer established modern obstetrics and gynaecology in Turkey, and was the director of the Turkish Red Crescent Society. After studying at the Imperial Medical College, graduating in 1885, he served for a brief period as a military physician, before moving to Paris where he worked as an assistant physician at the Paris Höpital de la Charité, specialising in obstetrics. On his return to Turkey, he went on to establish the country’s first birthing clinic in 1892, and during his lifetime did much to organise and promote the training of nurses. Between 1935 and 1940 he served as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
The present work is considered to be the first modern work in Turkey on the history of obstetrics and gynaecology, and touches upon the work and influence of numerous Arabic and European pioneers in the field.