(15) Traites mystiques d'Abou Ali al-Hosain b. Abdallah b. Sina
ou d'Avicenne par M. A. F. Mehren, Leyden, E. J. Brill, Fasc.
I-IV, 1889-1899.
The Western Caliphate produced physicians and philosophers almost as
brilliant as those of the East. Remarkable schools of medicine
were founded at Seville, Toledo and Cordova. The most famous of the
professors were Averroes, Albucasis and Avenzoar. Albucasis was "the
Arabian restorer of surgery." Averroes, called in the Middle Ages "the
Soul of Aristotle" or "the Commentator," is better known today among
philosophers than physicians. On the revival of Moslem orthodoxy he
fell upon evil days, was persecuted as a free-thinker, and the saying is
attributed to him--"Sit anima mea cum philosophic."
Arabian medicine had certain very definite characteristics: the basis
was Greek, derived from translations of the works of Hippocrates and
Galen. No contributions were made to anatomy, as dissections were
prohibited, nor to physiology, and the pathology was practically that
of Galen. Certain new and important diseases were described; a number
of new and active remedies were introduced, chiefly from the vegetable
kingdom. The Arabian hospitals were well organized and were deservedly
famous.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154