As to the various illustrations of the surgical instruments (over 200 figures in all), an almost complete representation of samples has been introduced by Channing,[7] Leclerc,[8] Gurlt,[9] Sudhoff,[10] and others. Nevertheless, a good number of the reproduced drawings are greatly modified, most likely having been influenced by earlier illustrations in several Latin and vernacular versions of the treatise.[11] This becomes clearer on comparison with seven Arabic manuscripts that have not been fully examined by Western scholars before and that--in several instances--show more authentic drawings of al-Zahrāwī’s surgical instruments than any heretofore published.[12] [Illustration: Figure 5.--Ink markings for identifying place of cauterization. _Top_, from original Arabic manuscript (Vel. 2491), courtesy Süleymaniye Umumi Kütüphanesi Müdürlüğü. _Bottom_, from Argellata 1531, courtesy National Library of Medicine.] [Illustration: Figure 6.--Cautery in hernia. _Top_, from original Arabic manuscript (Vel. 2491), courtesy Süleymaniye Umumi Kütüphanesi Müdürlüğü. _Bottom_, from Leclerc, _Albulcasis_.] This article therefore, is an attempt to present a sample of these illustrations with brief comments regarding certain figures and passages of interest to pharmacy and medical therapy. With much gratitude I express my indebtedness to Prof. G. Folch Jou of Madrid, to Dr. A. Süheyl Ünver and Mr. H. Dener of Istanbul, and to the librarians of the depository institutions for their cooperation in the reproduction of the manuscripts on microfilm. [Illustration: Figure 7.--Fine tweezer for removing foreign bodies from the ear. _Top_, from original Arabic manuscript (Ali 2854), courtesy Süleymaniye Umumi Kütüphanesi Müdürlüğü. _Bottom_, from Leclerc, _Abulcasis_.] [Illustration: Figure 8.--Syringe with metal plunger-pump. _Top_, from original Arabic manuscript (Ali 2854), courtesy Süleymaniye Umumi Kütüphanesi Müdürlüğü. _Bottom_, from Channing, _Albucasis_.] Al-Zahrāwī frequently introduces his treatises with brief instructive and sometimes informative preludes. However, in launching the last treatise of _al-Taṣrīf_ he expounded in a most interesting and illuminating manner the status of surgery during his time. He also explains the reasons that forced him to write on this topic and why he wished to include, as he did, precautions, advice, instructional notes, and beautifully illustrated surgical drawings. For example, the prelude to the treatise mentions four incidents that he witnessed, all ending with tragic results because of the ignorance of physicians who attempted to operate on patients without the proper training in anatomy and surgical manipulation. "For if one does not have the knowledge of anatomy," al-Zahrāwī protests, then "... he is apt to fall in errors that lead to death as I have seen it happen to many."[13]