Tārīkh-i pizishkī i.e., Medical History

Abstract

Abo Zeid Hanin Ibn Eshagh (260-194 A.H.) is one of the well-known and distinguished translators of Islamic era who knew Seryani, Greek and Arabic very well. He translated and compiled some books about medicine into Arabic. A book entitled “AL-masael fi Teb” is one of this scholar’s works. This books is an introduction to medicine and he presented some main points and details in it and these are actually basics and foundations of medicine. Hanin Started writing this book in Motevakel the kalif (247-232 A.H.) in Baghdad and wrote it based on Jalinos’ book in the framework of questions and answers. He Started the book with questions and answers about the details of medicine and divided medicine into two parts: theoretical and scientific. The purpose of writing such works is to study natural issues such as tastes and scientific medicine is defined as methods which a physician uses to treat the patient and to remove the diseases. The method which Hanin used in his book entitled “Al-masael”, is to transfer from main main points to details such as analogy which is like analogy to be based on the philosophers’ views of that era. It can be said that Hanin paid a special attention to the opinions and thoughts of the philosophers of his era. In presenting the chapters of his book, Hanin follows a logic which be came widespread in all scientific communities in Islamic world and his medical book follows philosophical principles. Furthermore, dividing medicine into theoretical and scientific parts echoes philosophers’ opinions. Ibn Abi Sadegh (date 459 A.H.) writes in the introduction of explanation of “Al-masael fi Teb”: “Hanin provided some notes during his life time about medicine and his nephew and his student, Hobeish Ib Hassan organized them and added some materials to them.” He believed that materials in the book entitled “Al-masael” were written by Hanin up to section Antitoxin (Padzahr) and other materials were added by Habish. (Al-masael fi Teb, preface from editor). Al-masael had a great benefit in familiarizing western physicians with Greek and Islamic medicine. Its latin translations were among the best selling publications in the west. These translations has been summarized in some cases. Translations by African Qostantin and Marqus Talitaliei have different titles; for example: Isagoge Iohannitii; Isagoge in artem Parvan Galeni; ysagoge Iohannicii and Tegni Galeni or liber introductorius in medicinam. (Sezgin, 2001, p.331). Henin compiled the book in 8 chapters: Chapter 1. Main issues in medicine; chapter 2. Science of diseases; chapter 3. causes of diseases; chapter 4. Causes and symptoms of diseases; chapter 5. science of therapy; chapter 6. Single and composed appetites; chapter 7. pulse; chapter 8. last part of medicine.