The starting-point for this volume is a previously unstudied nineteenth-century Persian text concerning hospital reform, and of great importance for understanding the history of medical care in nineteenth century Iran. The volume provides surprising new insights into the interrelation of medical practice, public health and politics in Qajar Iran. Rather than showing a straightforward replacement, it reveals that Western medicine was assimilated through dialogue into traditional medical systems. It argues that institutional changes preceded intellectual transitions insofar as the first reforms in the medical system were implemented at an institutional level as part of the development of the Qajar state and with the active involvement of traditional court physicians. Full edited text with translation and commentary. With illustrations.