In 1853, the governor of Biga sent a letter to the Upper Legislative Council (Meclis-i Vala) complaining that deaths during childbirth were caused by midwives in the town being neither trained nor sufficiently knowledgeable or skilled. He appealed to the government in İstanbul for a suitable midwife from among the graduates of the School of Medicine to be sent to Biga, for a period of five to six months, to teach the science to practising midwives there, adding that the necessary expenses and allowances would be undertaken by the local population. Upon receiving the letter (şukka), the Meclis-i Vala contacted the head of the School of Medicine and asked them to appoint a midwife capable enough to teach midwifery in Biga. However, the school replied that although they had two midwives capable of teaching midwifery, these women were indispensable and could not be sent. After some further exchange, the governor of Biga was asked to choose one talented midwife practising in the town and to send her to İstanbul to attend midwifery classes at the Midwifery School. She would later return and train unlicensed midwives in Biga. The council, however, insisted that her expenses and allowances be covered by the town. Moreover, it recommended that the Biga governorate choose a midwife who had some acquaintances in İstanbul to offer her accommodation.