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Vesalius, VI, 2, 133-135, 2000legislation and institutionalization will also help usto understand the underlying reasons of variouschoices of health education and practice indifferent societies today, as well as projectionsrelated with the 21st century. Politics have influencedthe development of the science andpractice of medicine throughout history, forexample, medical education, experimentation,preventive medicine, socialization and ethics etc.;while misfortunes such as epidemics, fatalillnesses, wars, earthquakes etc. have influencedhealth policy. This session will provide us anopportunity to discuss and comment on differenttendencies and their factors - the reasonsgenerating these tendencies - in the practice ofthe medical science and art.3. Medicine in the Near East ThroughHistory, with Emhasis on FamousAnatolian Physicians, Surgeons andPharmacists.The Near East has been the cradle ofnumerous civilizations. A great deal ofarcheological and written medical sources andhistorical buildings related with medical historyare found in this geographical area, though somehave not been studied yet. Medicine in Anatoliathrough history, with emphasis on famousAnatolian physicians, surgeons and pharmacistsand their works is expected to be specificallyemphasized.4. The Relation Between the TurkishMedicine and the Medicine of theEastern and Western Worlds in the Past.Relations with the peoples of the world haveaffected the transfer of medical knowledge andpractice through traditional and scientificelements.Turks founded several states throughouthistory. For example, the dominion of the OttomanState extended on three continents, namelyAsia, Europe and Africa. Therefore, the historicalbackground of many nations in these continentscan not be written without a knowledge of thehistory of Turkic peoples during the transfer ofcultures. Several countries formerly within theOttoman Empire have a long common period inhistory with it. Besides, several foreign physicians,surgeons, botanists etc. visited and settledin the Ottoman State; or were invited and appointedto serve in official institutions. The importance oftranslations and the role of different languages inthe mutual health relations are expected to beemphasized as well as scientific, political, socialand religious elements of medicine.5. Historical Sources ofthe Complementary Medicine :Complementary medicine or alternative medicineas known widely, is a matter of discussiontoday. As there can not be an alternative formedicine, dealing with the origins of the methodscalled alternative will be a valuable contributionto the discussion. As we know that complementarymedicine has its roots in ancient medicaltraditions, such as Chinese, Indian, Hippocratic,Islamic medicine etc, these discussions will alsohelp us in determining the role, the value and theplace of complementary medical practices today.It would also be possible for us to find answersto questions about what is believed to be missingin the contemporary medicine which is to becomplemented by alternatives. Discussion ofcomplementary medicine from the perspectiveof medical ethics and its evaluation through thescientific aspect is also expected.6. Varia :All subjects related to the history of medicineare welcomed. The main topics given aboveembrace the historical evolution of all medicalfields of specializations and their interaction withsocial elements through history. Therefore, wehopefully expect the participation and contributionboth of medical and social scientists.Nil Sari135