Celalettin Muhtar Ozden (1865–1947): his life, works and contributions to the study of dermatophytes

Background  Most of the distinctive studies concerning dermatophyte infections were carried out at the end of the 19th century. One of the contributors of these studies was the Turkish dermatologist Dr. Celalettin Muhtar Ozden. The aim of this study was to introduce his life, works, and contributions to dermatology. Methods  Dr. Ozden's original works and published memories about him were evaluated. Results  After graduating from the Military Medical School he was sent to Paris to carry out his studies on skin and syphilitic diseases in 1889 by the School. During his practice in Dr. A. Fournier's dermatological clinic at St. Louis Hospital (1889–1892), he diagnosed cases of trichophytosis that affects hands and feet. He published his findings collectively, in which, he presented information regarding the distinctive diagnosis and treatment of the disease, through a series of 25 cases, 18 of which were observed by himself in 1892. After returning to his homeland, Dr. Ozden trained many medical students through the last years of the Ottoman Empire to the first years of the Republic of Turkey. Conclusion  His publication dated 1892 is characterized by being the first detailed work on dermatophyte infections affecting hands and feet. Today, he is well known by dermatologists in Turkey and his name has been immortalized through the term, the ‘Celal Muhtar's disease.’ It is important that this famous Turkish physician should keep his rightful place in the medical history of the world as well.