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Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu started his medical interests at the age of 17. He would continue with this medical interest and practice in Amasya Dar-es Sifa Hospital until he passed away. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was a director of Amasya Dar-es Sifa Hospital for roughly 14 years.

Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye (Imperial Surgery)

Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye (Imperial Surgery) was Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu's most important book for medicine out of his known seven books. Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye was rediscovered by the historian Suheyl Unver in 1939. This book was then studied in 1992 by Ilter Uzel and then translated into modern Turkish, English, and Arabic. In Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu’s medical textbook, Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye, the descriptions of the diagnosis, classifications, and techniques used are explained in detail in the Turkish language. Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye was written in rhyme and meter in describing the different treatments, which was common practice for writers of the time. This book was mostly a modification and compilation of other medical techniques from Al-Zahrawi, but Sabuncuoğlu did contribute to unique ideas in this textbook. These include three new chapter that incorporate 134 surgical interventions and 156 surgical instruments. These three chapters discussed cauterization treatments, surgical procedures, fractures and dislocations, and cancer related issues. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu made sure to describe surgical complications and cite any knowledge he attained from others. When Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye was completed, it was presented to the Ottoman emperor Sultan Mehmet II. Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye shows that Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu believed that women had an important role as physicians. Female surgeons were depicted in his illustrations involving gynecology. The female surgeons were called “tabiba” in the book. These gynecology illustrations were also important in portraying the correct position of the patient.

In these treatments, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu used his own observations from experimenting with animals to develop new treatments. Successful treatments were then transcribed to surgical procedures in humans. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu would only transcribe and illustrate the treatments after he completed the treatments himself. He would even test therapeutic treatments on himself before applying them on patients. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was also aware of sepsis. In order to prevent the spread of a pathogen, he would wear a surgical attire that involved wine and olive oil as antiseptics. In one such treatment, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu discussed a breast cancer treatment in which the suggested treatment was to surgically remove the small cancers in their early stage. This treatment ensures that the tumor does not spread or grow to the rest of the body, which is common practice for treating cancer today. Many of these treatments in Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye have illustrations accompanied next to them, which ensure that the intended audience are able to follow the treatment correctly. Every illustration contains a distinct physician and patient along with the tools used in the treatment.

In Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu treatment of epilepsy, he used the technique of skull cauterization as a way of purifying the body from evil spirits. This demonstrates the religious and incomplete understanding of some of the medical issues that were prevalent in the past. This was evident in the recovery phase of his epilepsy treatment where he states, “you’ll have to give the patient the following foods to enable the dehydration in order that the patient can recover, with the permission of Allah”. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu recommended using a non-invasive and less intense treatment first before moving on to a stronger treatment. In his epilepsy treatment, herbal mixtures were recommended to be used first, then a cauterization on the forehead could be used if the herbal mixtures did not work. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was also careful in not over-treating a patient. In Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu’s description and diagnosis of spinal dislocations, he mentions how swelling after the treatment is normal and that repeating the treatment could lead to the death of the patient.

Medical Innovations

Serafeddin Sabuncuoglu was one of the first to describe hydrocephalic drainage techniques in children. Hydrocephalus is the medical condition in which fluid builds up in the brain. The treatment of children and women were rarely found during this period as they were widely considered assets prior to the Renaissance period. However, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu did not have specific descriptions and understanding of hydrocephalus. It was after 150 years from Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu initial description and diagnosis that Marco Aurelio Severino would officially describe and classify this procedure. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was also the first to use his axial traction technique for spinal surgery. He also pioneered the usage of a wooden splint after hand surgery. An important observation that Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu made in Cerrahiyyet’u¨l Haniye was that a fast delivery of a baby can occur if the patient holds their breath and exerts a strong force. He recommended herbal drugs that would cause the patient to sneeze in order to exert a stronger force. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu also describes complications that occur during pregnancy and how to prevent the death of the mother. His main techniques involve the insertion of a hook on a dead fetus to extract the baby out of the mother. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu also suggested crushing the fetus’ skull with the “Mi dah” instrument if the hydrocephaly was causing the obstruction. The modern technique of a caesarean section was not known during this time, so these were the next best techniques for pregnancy complications.