HISTORY
The Contributions of Persian Medicine to the West Mohsen Ziai, M.D.*
MOST OF THE AUTHORITIES on the history .of philosophy, science, and medicine agree that the great treasure of knowledge left behind by the Greek masters was not necessarily their creations, but rather the composite of what they had been able to gather from the work of Indian, Egyptian, and Persian scholars to which they added their own findings and interpretations. The medicine of Hippocrates, the philosophy of Plato and particularly that of Aristotle are examples of this. Perhaps the most influential figure in the formation of this aspect of Greek philosophy was the great Persian Prophet Zoroaster. What we know of his contributions is based primarily on circumstantial evidence and is poorly documented. After Zoroaster, we deal with more tangible evidence. The golden era of Persian science and medicine starts around the year 260 A.D., when Shahpour I, the King of Persia, defeated Valerian, the Roman Emperor. To celebrate this victory, he rebuilt the ancient city of Jundi Shahpour and developed it into a great and cultured metropolis with many schools and factories. Later on Shahpour II established a university in that city in the year 340 A.D. This university became one of the greatest centers of learning; students came from everywhere and became familiar with Persian, Jewish, Greek, and Hindu science and philosophy. Many of the '" Professor of Pediatrics, Tehran University and Lecturer in Pediatrics. The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Md. CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
January 1975
teachers of this university were Nestorian Christians. At the time of the Arab invasion of Persia and the capture of Jundi Shahpour in the year 636, the city and its university were enjoying the greatest period of their reputation and glory. Fortunately, the invaders did not disturb the university but instead supported it, so that it soon became the outstanding center for medical teaching in that part of the world. Jundi Shahpour remained in this leading position until two centuries later when the school in Baghdad attracted and drained off its teachers. During this period, the ceiebrated masters of the university found access to the available knowledge of the 'other civilizations, assembling it and adding materially to it by their own findings and observations. . Bedside teaching was emphasized at the famous hospital ofJundi Shahpour. The hospital was called "Bimarestan,' a word which is still being used in the Persian language. Many outstanding physicians practiced and taught in this university, and their students spread their knowledge throughout the civilized world. Among them one should give tribute to the famous Bukht-Yishu family. who, for six generations extending over 250 years, were considered preeminent in medicine. Seven of them became royal physicians in their days. Among them one must mention Jirjis and his grandson Gabriel who became the physician to Haroun-AlRashid. Perhaps the first Arabic physician who attended the medical school ofJundi Shahpour
83
ZIAI
was Harith-ibn-Kalada, a Christian who later practiced for many years in Persia and numbered among his patients the great Persian King Khosrow. Subsequently, he returned to Arabia where he allegedly became close to Prophet Mohammad and was possibly his personal physician. Among the other pupils of the Jundi Shah pour School one should mention Yhanaibn-Mossavayh, known to Latin Europe as Mesue Senior. He was later appointed as the director of the school of Baghdad and the first president of the college of translators. He wrote many books of which at least 29 were translated into Latin. Many of them were used by medieval European scholars. Hunayn-ibn-Ishag is another outstanding figure, who in addition to translating the works of Greek masters had an impressive list of original books numbering more than 100. The best known of his works are the Questions on Medicine and his textbook of ophthamology in ten volumes, the earliest compiled work in this subject. Ali-ibn-Abbas, known as the Persian sage, was a Zoroastrian who was born near ]undi Shahpour and died in 994 A.D. He is known to the western world as Haly Abbas and is remembered for his System of Medicine or the Royal Book. It was the first Islamic medical work which was translated into Latin. Although this book was later overshadowed by Avicenna's Canon of Medicine, many critics consider it the most clearly written and practical pre-Renaissance medical textbook. The surgical section of the book gives excellent descriptions of how to perform tracheotomy and how to ligate a wounded artery; and it recommends excision as the best treatment for cancer of the breast or extremities.
84
Perhaps the most outstanding figures in the history of medieval medicine were two Persians named Rhazes and Avicenna. Born in Rey near the present Tehran, Rhazes was a musician, philosopher, and poet until the age of 40. After a visit to the great hospital in Baghdad, he became interested in studying medicine. Within a short period of time, he excelled among all his contemporaries and became the most famous physician of his day. He was appointed as the director of the hospital in Rey and later the chief physician to the great hospital in Baghdad. Rhazes is known as one of the most extraordinary clinicians who has every lived. His method of teaching the students was to have the least experienced ones examine the patient first. If the diagnosis could not be made they would in turn refer the patient on to those more experienced. The truly unusual and complicated clinical problems would subsequently reach Rhazes himself. He would then hold teaching exercises on these patients and advise on therapy. Rhazes made many original contributions to medicine, the best known of which are the descriptions of smallpox and measles. His many discoveries in the field of chemistry and pharmacology include the therapeutic use of mercurials. He left over 250 works, the most famous of which were his AlHawi, the great encyclopedia of medicine, and Liber-el-Mansoris. He is recognized as the father of pediatrics because he wrote the first book on child care and the diseases of children. Rhazes made great sums of money as a respected physician, yet died in poverty because he could not tolerate the misery and need of his fellow men. He passed away at the age of 82, blind during his last few years presumably because of cataracts. It is said that he refused an operation on his eyes, stating that he had already seen a great deal of the world and did not want to see any more. Avicenna, known as the "Prince of Physicians," was one of history's few universal geniuses. As LeClerk said: "Avicenna is an intellectual phenomenon. Never perhaps has an example been of so precious, quick, Vol. 14 No.1
CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
PERSIAN MEDICINE
and wide intellect, extending and asserting itself with so strange and indefatigable an activity." William Harvey, 600 years after Avicenna's death, said to his friend Aubry, "Go 10 the fountainhead and read Aristotle, Cicero, and Avicenna." The son of a tax collector in the Persian village of Khormaithan and subsequently in Bukhara, Avicenna demonstrated his extraordinary intelligence at an early age. At ten, he knew the Koran by rote and at 16 he had mastered the available knowledge in science and the humanities. He then began his medical studies and soon became famous as a physician. Avicenna was extraordinarily handsome, and his adventurous life reads like a novel. During his travels, he was brought to the services of kings and rulers who employed him as their musician, companion, and minister. During this busy life, which ended at the age of 58, he found time to write over 100 books dealing with such varied subjects as theology, poetry, philosophy, philology, mathematics, physics, metaphysics and astronomy, in addition to medicine. Avicenna's philosophy followed the intellectual path of Aristotle with a strong flavor of mysticism. His beautiful poetry, unlike most of his other works, was written in his native Persian. The following two lines are taken from his famous poem on the soul (English translation from Browne). The first line reads: "It descended upon thee from out of the regions above, That exalted ineffable, glorious, heavenly Dove."
The last line reads: "Like a gleam of lightning which over the meadows shone, And as though it never had been in a moment is gone."
Skifa, his encyclopedic work on physics, metaphysics, logic and mathematics, overshadowed all his other books except the Canon of Medicine, his monumental medical text book. Canon dominated the medical world for 700 years and was the best recognized textbook of medicine in European universities until the 17th century. CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
January 1975
The contributions of these and other Persian scholars indirectly influenced the development of a great university in Cordoba, the capital of the Western Caliphate and Europe's most civilized city for centuries. Through this route, the knowledge of these great masters was disseminated in both East and West. We trust that this great Persian cultural heritage of early medicine and beautiful poetry and literature, as well as the other products of its ancient civilization, will have some influence on present and future generations over and above the narrowness of material interests. There is a great challenge for all who are concerned with human suffering to combine their efforts with those of their fellow men in different corners of the world in order to help mankind and to produce a happier and healthier world. Enormous quantities of tranquilizers, sedatives, and other forms of medicine have done little to combat the increasing rate of heart disease, delinquency, suicide, accidents, mental illness, and other products of tension and anxiety. Needed more than ,progress in physics, chemistry, and molecular biology is peace of mind, appreciation of the spiritual aspects of life, and a deepseated sense of values. Modern Iran (formerly known as Persia) has honored Rhazes and Avicenna by placing their portraits (presumably imaginary) on portrait stamps. The one of Rhazes appeared in 1964; the one of Avicenna was brought out in 1954 as part of a series of semipostals ("value-added") to help pay for the restoration of his tomb at Hamadan. References I. Brown, E. G.: A Literary
2. 3.
4.
5. 6.
History of Persia. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1956, Vol. II, pp. 109-111. Elgood, C.: A Medical History of Persia. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1951. Major, R.: A History of Medicine. Springfield, Ill. Charles C Thomas, 1954, pp. 225-61. Sarton, G.: An Appreciation of Ancient and Medieval Science During The Renaissance. Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania Press, 1955, pp. 39-51. Sigerist, H. E.: A History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1961, pp. 197- 206. Ziai, M.: Avicenna. Clin. Pediatr. 3: 120, 1964.
85
The Contributions of Persian Medicine to the West Mohsen Ziai, M.D.*
MOST OF THE AUTHORITIES on the history .of philosophy, science, and medicine agree that the great treasure of knowledge left behind by the Greek masters was not necessarily their creations, but rather the composite of what they had been able to gather from the work of Indian, Egyptian, and Persian scholars to which they added their own findings and interpretations. The medicine of Hippocrates, the philosophy of Plato and particularly that of Aristotle are examples of this. Perhaps the most influential figure in the formation of this aspect of Greek philosophy was the great Persian Prophet Zoroaster. What we know of his contributions is based primarily on circumstantial evidence and is poorly documented. After Zoroaster, we deal with more tangible evidence. The golden era of Persian science and medicine starts around the year 260 A.D., when Shahpour I, the King of Persia, defeated Valerian, the Roman Emperor. To celebrate this victory, he rebuilt the ancient city of Jundi Shahpour and developed it into a great and cultured metropolis with many schools and factories. Later on Shahpour II established a university in that city in the year 340 A.D. This university became one of the greatest centers of learning; students came from everywhere and became familiar with Persian, Jewish, Greek, and Hindu science and philosophy. Many of the '" Professor of Pediatrics, Tehran University and Lecturer in Pediatrics. The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Md. CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
January 1975
teachers of this university were Nestorian Christians. At the time of the Arab invasion of Persia and the capture of Jundi Shahpour in the year 636, the city and its university were enjoying the greatest period of their reputation and glory. Fortunately, the invaders did not disturb the university but instead supported it, so that it soon became the outstanding center for medical teaching in that part of the world. Jundi Shahpour remained in this leading position until two centuries later when the school in Baghdad attracted and drained off its teachers. During this period, the ceiebrated masters of the university found access to the available knowledge of the 'other civilizations, assembling it and adding materially to it by their own findings and observations. . Bedside teaching was emphasized at the famous hospital ofJundi Shahpour. The hospital was called "Bimarestan,' a word which is still being used in the Persian language. Many outstanding physicians practiced and taught in this university, and their students spread their knowledge throughout the civilized world. Among them one should give tribute to the famous Bukht-Yishu family. who, for six generations extending over 250 years, were considered preeminent in medicine. Seven of them became royal physicians in their days. Among them one must mention Jirjis and his grandson Gabriel who became the physician to Haroun-AlRashid. Perhaps the first Arabic physician who attended the medical school ofJundi Shahpour
83
ZIAI
was Harith-ibn-Kalada, a Christian who later practiced for many years in Persia and numbered among his patients the great Persian King Khosrow. Subsequently, he returned to Arabia where he allegedly became close to Prophet Mohammad and was possibly his personal physician. Among the other pupils of the Jundi Shah pour School one should mention Yhanaibn-Mossavayh, known to Latin Europe as Mesue Senior. He was later appointed as the director of the school of Baghdad and the first president of the college of translators. He wrote many books of which at least 29 were translated into Latin. Many of them were used by medieval European scholars. Hunayn-ibn-Ishag is another outstanding figure, who in addition to translating the works of Greek masters had an impressive list of original books numbering more than 100. The best known of his works are the Questions on Medicine and his textbook of ophthamology in ten volumes, the earliest compiled work in this subject. Ali-ibn-Abbas, known as the Persian sage, was a Zoroastrian who was born near ]undi Shahpour and died in 994 A.D. He is known to the western world as Haly Abbas and is remembered for his System of Medicine or the Royal Book. It was the first Islamic medical work which was translated into Latin. Although this book was later overshadowed by Avicenna's Canon of Medicine, many critics consider it the most clearly written and practical pre-Renaissance medical textbook. The surgical section of the book gives excellent descriptions of how to perform tracheotomy and how to ligate a wounded artery; and it recommends excision as the best treatment for cancer of the breast or extremities.
84
Perhaps the most outstanding figures in the history of medieval medicine were two Persians named Rhazes and Avicenna. Born in Rey near the present Tehran, Rhazes was a musician, philosopher, and poet until the age of 40. After a visit to the great hospital in Baghdad, he became interested in studying medicine. Within a short period of time, he excelled among all his contemporaries and became the most famous physician of his day. He was appointed as the director of the hospital in Rey and later the chief physician to the great hospital in Baghdad. Rhazes is known as one of the most extraordinary clinicians who has every lived. His method of teaching the students was to have the least experienced ones examine the patient first. If the diagnosis could not be made they would in turn refer the patient on to those more experienced. The truly unusual and complicated clinical problems would subsequently reach Rhazes himself. He would then hold teaching exercises on these patients and advise on therapy. Rhazes made many original contributions to medicine, the best known of which are the descriptions of smallpox and measles. His many discoveries in the field of chemistry and pharmacology include the therapeutic use of mercurials. He left over 250 works, the most famous of which were his AlHawi, the great encyclopedia of medicine, and Liber-el-Mansoris. He is recognized as the father of pediatrics because he wrote the first book on child care and the diseases of children. Rhazes made great sums of money as a respected physician, yet died in poverty because he could not tolerate the misery and need of his fellow men. He passed away at the age of 82, blind during his last few years presumably because of cataracts. It is said that he refused an operation on his eyes, stating that he had already seen a great deal of the world and did not want to see any more. Avicenna, known as the "Prince of Physicians," was one of history's few universal geniuses. As LeClerk said: "Avicenna is an intellectual phenomenon. Never perhaps has an example been of so precious, quick, Vol. 14 No.1
CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
PERSIAN MEDICINE
and wide intellect, extending and asserting itself with so strange and indefatigable an activity." William Harvey, 600 years after Avicenna's death, said to his friend Aubry, "Go 10 the fountainhead and read Aristotle, Cicero, and Avicenna." The son of a tax collector in the Persian village of Khormaithan and subsequently in Bukhara, Avicenna demonstrated his extraordinary intelligence at an early age. At ten, he knew the Koran by rote and at 16 he had mastered the available knowledge in science and the humanities. He then began his medical studies and soon became famous as a physician. Avicenna was extraordinarily handsome, and his adventurous life reads like a novel. During his travels, he was brought to the services of kings and rulers who employed him as their musician, companion, and minister. During this busy life, which ended at the age of 58, he found time to write over 100 books dealing with such varied subjects as theology, poetry, philosophy, philology, mathematics, physics, metaphysics and astronomy, in addition to medicine. Avicenna's philosophy followed the intellectual path of Aristotle with a strong flavor of mysticism. His beautiful poetry, unlike most of his other works, was written in his native Persian. The following two lines are taken from his famous poem on the soul (English translation from Browne). The first line reads: "It descended upon thee from out of the regions above, That exalted ineffable, glorious, heavenly Dove."
The last line reads: "Like a gleam of lightning which over the meadows shone, And as though it never had been in a moment is gone."
Skifa, his encyclopedic work on physics, metaphysics, logic and mathematics, overshadowed all his other books except the Canon of Medicine, his monumental medical text book. Canon dominated the medical world for 700 years and was the best recognized textbook of medicine in European universities until the 17th century. CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
January 1975
The contributions of these and other Persian scholars indirectly influenced the development of a great university in Cordoba, the capital of the Western Caliphate and Europe's most civilized city for centuries. Through this route, the knowledge of these great masters was disseminated in both East and West. We trust that this great Persian cultural heritage of early medicine and beautiful poetry and literature, as well as the other products of its ancient civilization, will have some influence on present and future generations over and above the narrowness of material interests. There is a great challenge for all who are concerned with human suffering to combine their efforts with those of their fellow men in different corners of the world in order to help mankind and to produce a happier and healthier world. Enormous quantities of tranquilizers, sedatives, and other forms of medicine have done little to combat the increasing rate of heart disease, delinquency, suicide, accidents, mental illness, and other products of tension and anxiety. Needed more than ,progress in physics, chemistry, and molecular biology is peace of mind, appreciation of the spiritual aspects of life, and a deepseated sense of values. Modern Iran (formerly known as Persia) has honored Rhazes and Avicenna by placing their portraits (presumably imaginary) on portrait stamps. The one of Rhazes appeared in 1964; the one of Avicenna was brought out in 1954 as part of a series of semipostals ("value-added") to help pay for the restoration of his tomb at Hamadan. References I. Brown, E. G.: A Literary
2. 3.
4.
5. 6.
History of Persia. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1956, Vol. II, pp. 109-111. Elgood, C.: A Medical History of Persia. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1951. Major, R.: A History of Medicine. Springfield, Ill. Charles C Thomas, 1954, pp. 225-61. Sarton, G.: An Appreciation of Ancient and Medieval Science During The Renaissance. Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania Press, 1955, pp. 39-51. Sigerist, H. E.: A History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1961, pp. 197- 206. Ziai, M.: Avicenna. Clin. Pediatr. 3: 120, 1964.
85
