Dr. Avram Farkić, father of Yugoslavian physical therapy

A lot of news have surfaced in the past few days (and big ones), but I wanted to take the time and post about the only member of my family to have his own Wikipedia page, albeit in Serbian. I actually just wanted to write about him because I love this picture that features drawings of the crazy machines he invented.

Dr. Avram Farkić was born in Silistra, Bulgaria in 1866 and died in Belgrade in 1925. He was the brother of my great-great-great-grandfather Hajim Farkić and uncle of my great-great-grandfather Moscha Farkitsch. His father was Josef Farhi. As you can see, the last name mutates over time.

Here I'll cite Jelena Simic from the Museum of Science and Technology in Serbia:

"Methods of physical medicine, many of which have been empirically applied since the ancient times, have become particularly popular in 19th century Europe. The first examples of the works of Serbian doctors in this area originate from the same period. In 1838 and 1839, Dr. Konstantin Peičić wrote about Prissnitz’s method of hydrotherapy. In 1842, Dr. Dimitrije Radulović published in Latin his doctoral dissertation concerning medical gymnastics. In the middle of the 19th century, in the Principality of Serbia, hydrotherapy treatments (by Dr. Andrija Ivanović, 1850) and electrotherapy (by Dr. Jovan Valenta, 1857) wеre applied. Among the pioneers of physical medicine in Serbia, Dr Avram Farkić is a very important figure. In 1896, Farkić founded the first Serbian institute for physiotherapy in Belgrade, and, two years later, the First Institute for Orthopedics, Swedish Gymnastics and Massage. These institutions were merged in 1899. After the death of Dr. Farkić in 1925, the Institute worked under his name until the German bombing of Belgrade on April 6, 1941. The diversity and continuous introduction of modern therapeutic procedures were the main characteristics of the Institute during its 45-year-long existence. Dr. Farkić was also the initiator of the establishment of the Therapy Joint Stock Company, which founded the first institute for physical medicine in Vrnjačka Banja, the Therapy Institute for Treatment by Water and Electricity, in 1911. Until the First World War, it was the most modern spa sanatorium in Serbia. During spa seasons of 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1924, Dr. Farkić himself was the manager and the main physician of the Therapy Institute."

Pretty cool, huh?

By the way the first Farhi that we know of is one Ishtori HaFarhi from France, according to this website. Most of them moved to the Ottoman Empire and later, a branch moved to Bulgaria - where I assume my Farhis come from.