ABU AL-QASIM AL-ZAHRAWI
(936-1013 C.E.)
Abul Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas al-Zahrawi
(known in the west as Abulcasis) was
born in 936 C.E. in Zahra in the
neighbourhood of Cordova. He became one
of the most renowned surgeons of the
Muslim era and was physician to King Al-Hakam-II
of Spain. After a long medical career,
rich with significant original
contribution, he died in 1013 C.E.
He is best known for his early and
original breakthroughs in surgery as
well as for his famous Medical
Ecyclopaedia called Al-Tasrif,
which is composed of thirty volumes
covering different aspects of medical
science. The more important part of this
series comprises three books on surgery,
which describe in detail various aspects
of surgical treatment as based on the
operations performed by him, including
cauterization, removal of stone from the
bladder, dissection of animals,
midwifery, stypics, and surgery of eye,
ear and throat. He perfected several
delicate operations, including removal
of the dead foetus and amputation.
Al-Tasrif was first translated
by Gherard of Cremona into Latin in the
Middle Ages. It was followed by several
other editors in Europe. The book
contains numerous diagrams and
illustrations of surgical instruments,
in use or developed by him, and
comprised a part of the medical
curriculum in European countries for
many centuries. Contrary to the view
that the Muslims fought shy of surgery,
Al-Zahrawi's Al-Tasrif provided a
monumental collection for this branch of
applied science.
Al-Zahrawi was the inventor of
several surgical instruments, of which
three are notable: (i) an instrument for
internal examina- tion of the ear, (ii)
an instrument for internal inspection of
the urethra, and (iii) and instrument
for applying or removing foreign bodies
from the throat. He specialized in
curing disease by cauterization and
applied the technique to as many as 50
different operations.
In his book Al-Tasrif, Al-Zahrawi
has also discussed the preparation of
various medicines, in addition to a
comprehensive account of surgical
treatment in specialized branches, whose
modern counterparts are E.N.T.,
Ophthalmology, etc. In connection with
the preparation of medicines, he has
also described in detail the application
of such techniques as sublimation and
decantation. Al-Zahrawi was also an
expert in dentistry, and his book
contains sketches of various instruments
used thereof, in addition to a
description of various important dental
operations. He discussed the problem of
non-aligned or deformed teeth and how to
rectify these defects. He developed the
technique of preparing artificial teeth
and of replacement of defective teeth by
these. In medicine, he was the first to
describe in detail the unusual disease,
haemophelia.
There can be no doubt that Al-Zahrawi
influenced the field of medicine and
surgery very deeply and the principles
laid down by him were recognized as
authentic in medical science, especially
surgery, and these continued to
influence the medical world for five
centuries. According to Dr. Cambell (History
of Arab Medicine), his principles of
medical science surpassed those of Galen
in the European medical curriculum.
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Al-Tasreef contains about 200
surgical instruments clearly
described and illustrated, many
of which were of his own design,
for he was a great advocate of
creativity and invention.
His book is widely acclaimed to
be the first illustrated
treatise in the history of
surgery. It is lucidly written,
unambiguous and is an enjoyment
to read even nowadays.
The first 56 chapters of al-Tasreef
deal with cautery, but we will
confine ourselves to very few
examples, not only for their
historical importance but also
to dissipate many illusions
which link all progress in
medicine with the last 100
years. |
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