Parasitic ınfections of the skin and subcutaneous tissues in the fifteenth century in Anatolia.

Knowledge regarding parasites and the diseases they cause remains limited in the pre-microscopic era. Historical medical records concerning cutaneous parasitic infections often lack precision, leaving our understanding of these conditions in earlier centuries largely speculative. While the history of intestinal parasites is well-documented back to antiquity, literature on cutaneous parasites and filariasis primarily dates only to the late 18th century. However, Cerrahiyetü'l Haniyye - the first illustrated surgical textbook written in 15th century Anatolia - presents these conditions in a manner strikingly consistent with modern clinical understanding. This seminal work offers a definitive, early account of cutaneous parasites, accompanied by detailed clinical descriptions that require no interpretation. Furthermore, the unique arrangement of miniature illustrations depicting surgical procedures performed to treat skin parasites makes an extremely important contribution to the known history of skin parasites.