Provision of medical care to the 1821 Hellenic Revolution Fighters

Abstract

The fight to free the enslaved by the Turks Greeks in the 1821 Hellenic Revolution was not only in battlefields restricted. The contribution of medical personnel to the wounded was equally invaluable leading to the final victory. Access to medical treatment proved extremely difficult. Existing public health conditions along the Turkish rule could be politely deemed from miserable up to unacceptable. Many young scientists, students or graduates from European medical schools preferred to remain in the attractive western world. Few of them motivated by their genuine patriotism returned to their homeland in order to offer their knowledge and skills. Practical doctors and to some extent doctors staffing the tactical army, mainly foreigners supporting Hellenic nation into its struggle to liberate itself (Philhellenes), carried out the duty for medical care in battlefields. Of course, during this destruction empiric healers and charlatans grabbed the opportunity to declare their exceptional healing skills!