El-Aini Triology
The heritage of scientists is like the heritage of the prophets: it is a message and a vocation, not a mark of wealth and opulence. It is also handed down from predecessors to their successors. Accordingly, the contents of this book have the major aim of communicating to its readers a profound knowledge of the history of medicine. This history represents a vital aspect of medical cultural knowledge. This volume highlights the advancement and progress of Egypt in the medical education field, and also brings into prominence the continuity between the past, the present and the future, though they may be distances apart. In this way, we can communicate our message in the field of medicine to the new generations of students, in its most magnificent form.
 |
 |
 |
The «medical trilogy» is based on these three major topics: «Kasr El-Aini Medical School and History», «Kasr El-Aini Physicians» and «The Renaissance of Egyptian Medical History». The accounts of this trilogy were published by Prof. Mahmoud El-Minawi (1979 - 1999 -2000) to serve as an ideal reply to those who were skeptical about the potentialities of the long-standing School of Medicine at Kasr El-Aini. They are the ones who attacked Dr. Clot Bey who laid down the foundation~ of the Egyptian Medical School during the time of Mohamed Ah Pasha, and his successor, the ruler of Egypt, Said Pasha, This «El-Minawi Medical Trilogy» may be considered as the greatest record and documentation of the history of this time-honored School of Medicine.
Perhaps the best way to confirm the fact that Kasr El-Aini is deep rooted in Egyptian history is to quote the words of Clot Bey in his Memoirs: «It occurred to me that I should sow the seeds of Medical Education in Egyptian soil. I, therefore, submitted the proposal to the Egyptian Government underlining the benefit to be reaped from teaching the medical sciences to a considerable number of Egyptians, and I explained how they can, after their training, join the army mobilized in the service of national health». It was not difficult for Mohamed Ah Pasha to realize the genuineness of these benefits. However, as soon as the news of the project spread out among the people, there were many of those who began to fight against it. They tried their outmost to dissuade the «Wali» of Egypt from implementing the project. They magnified the obstacles that would hinder its implementation. They alleged that the Egyptians didn't have enough intelligence and potential to accomplish what other Europeans had done. They ignored the fact that Egyptian history was full of men and events that could easily belie their allegations.
They also added, «It is mere folly and false enthusiasm to teach people a science couched in the language of professors who taught in a language different from their own. Those who campaigned against the project used religion as a weapon spreading false rumors against Islam:
The history of medicine in Egypt has always been an integral part of the history of Kasr El-Aini. This history has its social, economic, cultural and even political ramifications. Egyptian medicine is deep-rooted in Egyptian local history but it is also innovative and has its international influence. The ties between Egyptian medicine and international medicine are long-standing and are based on thought, research and the mutual exchange of findings and discoveries. Its roots date back of Pharaonic Egypt; but it has continued to renew itself one year after the other. The School of Medicine at Kasr El-Aini is one vestige of the continuity between Egyptian and the ever-innovative worldwide medicine. It would not be an exaggeration to claim that the medical heritage of Egypt represents «the gift of the Egyptians to the entire world»
