Drawings and Pharmacy in Al-Zahrawi's 10th-Century Surgical TreatiseHamarneh, Sami Khalaf
History
Drawings and Pharmacy in Al-Zahrawi's 10th-Century Surgical Treatise
Hamarneh, Sami Khalaf
Pharmacy -- Early works to 1800
In like manner, al-Zahrāwī discusses cautery of the stomach and the
"cold liver" in chapters 26 and 27, respectively. The drawings therein
represent shapes of the burns on the skin (fig. 4) and marks of ink to
be drawn beneath the cartilage of the ribs (fig. 5) for the purpose of
spotting the area of operation. Here also he describes carefully and
clearly the methods of applying cautery and the types, position, and
number of tools employed in each case. He likewise depicts (in chapter
45) instruments used in the treatment of hernia (fig. 6).
The second section (bāb), with about 99 chapters,[20] deals with
incision, puncturing, venesection, cupping, surgery on abscesses, and
the withdrawal of arrows from the body. Al-Zahrāwī warns that ignorance
in such operations may lead to damage of an artery or vein, causing loss
of blood "by which life is sustained."[21] Moreover, needle and thread
(more than one kind is mentioned) for the stitching of wounds are
repeatedly recommended.
According to al-Zahrāwī, foreign bodies that lodge in the ear (chapter
6) are of four origins: (1) "mineral stones" or substances resembling
mineral stones such as iron and glass; (2) plant seeds (chick-peas and
beans); (3) liquids, such as water and vinegar; and (4) animals, such
as fleas. Several instruments are recommended for the removal of such
foreign bodies--fine tweezers shaped like a dropper (fig. 7), a syringe
with plunger-pump, and a tube made of silver or copper (fig. 8). Also of
interest to pharmacy and therapy is the advice in regard to the use of
lubricants to be applied before administering these fine instruments
into the body’s cavities.
Chapter 24 is concerned with the treatment of the polypus that grows in
the nose. The various kinds (including cancer growth), shapes, and
colors of this type tumor and its treatment by surgery or medicine are
described. A hollowed nose-dropper made of metal in the shape of a small
kerosene lamp[22] is suggested (fig. 9). The dropper is held by its
handle while its contents are heated before use. Applying heat to nose
drops was probably proposed because it serves two purposes: it allows
easier flow of the "duhn," or the fatty substance used, and it raises
the temperature of the drops to that of the body.
In his discussion on dental hygiene,[23] al-Zahrāwī describes scrapers
and dental forceps for teeth cleaning and extraction (figs. 10, 11) and
brings in a few points of historical interest.[24] He warns of the
common error of extracting the adjacent healthy tooth instead of the
ailing one due to the patient’s sense deception. For a gargle he
prescribes salt water, vinegar, and wine (sharāb). To stop hemorrhage he
used blue vitriol (al-zāj)--copper sulfate in our modern terminology.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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