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 Encyclopaedia 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,
styptics, 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, haemophilia.
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. |
Hillary
Clinton and Barack Obama have traded primary victories in
the race to become the Democratic US presidential candidate,
while John McCain has consolidated his lead in the Republican
race. Results are coming in from the 24 states voting in "Super
Tuesday", the single-biggest round of nominating in the
race to be the next US president.
Kenya's
opposition leader Raila Odinga has threatened violent street
protests if the meeting with regional foreign ministers chaired
by the government goes ahead this week while the two sides
are locked in political negotiations.
Riots
rocked the Mozambican capital of Maputo for a second day today.
The riots were sparked by the 50% rise in fares charged by
the private transport operators who operate the minibus taxi
service.
As
from today Chevron Refinery, who are the only suppliers of
fuel to Caltex service stations, will not be able to supply
consumers with liquefied petroleum gas. Chevron Refinery's
public affairs manager, Phumi Nhlapo, says it has sufficient
diesel and petrol stocks but cannot resume production because
it did not have a stable power supply.
The
Department of Foreign Affairs says four more South Africans
were evacuated from N'Djamena this morning. The Departments
Ronnie Mamoepa says this brings the total number of South
Africans so far evacuated from N'Djamena to nine. |
EDUCATION
vs WEALTH
-----------------------
A sage, instructing his students, said to them: 'O darlings
of your fathers, learn a trade because property and riches
of the world are not to be relied upon; also silver and gold
are an occasion of danger because either a thief may steal
them at once or the owner spend them gradually; but a profession
is a living fountain and permanent wealth; and although a
professional man may lose riches, it does not matter because
a profession is itself wealth and wherever he goes he will
enjoy respect and sit in high places, whereas he who has no
trade will glean crumbs and see hardships: [SA'ADI] |