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Article V. Extract from the work entitled or, Fountains of Information respecting the classes of Physicians, by Muuaffik-uddín Abú-'labbás Ahmad Ibn Abú Usaibiâh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

Extract

The following extract was originally made with the view of forming a collection of such passages relative to India as may occur in Arabic writers. The further prosecution of this design appears to be rendered unnecessary by the publication of a work by Mr. Gildemeister, of Bonn, of which the first fasciculus has appeared, entitled Scriptorum Arabum de Rebus Indicis loci et opuscula inedita, 8vo. Bonn, 1838. At page 94, he has spoken at some length of the names of Indian authors and books, which occur in this chapter of Ibn Abu Usaibiâh; and Dietz in his Analecta Medica, Lips. 1833, p. 117, has given a great part of the chapter. The whole of it is now supplied, as, independently of the information which it affords relative to the scientific intercourse between India and Bagdad, it contains some interesting aneedotes of the time of Harún Alrashíd.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1985

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References

page 106 note 1 Abu Maàshar Jaáfar Albalkhi died A.II. 272. Ijaji Khalfa says of this work, He speaks in this book, of the temples and great, buildings winch were constructed in the world, in each thousand years. His life is written by Ibn Khallikán.

page 106 note 2 Haji Khalfa notices the second and third of these works; he calls the author Kankah the Indian, one of the ancient astronomers.

page 106 note 3 The word is thus explained in the Kámús. “Kunnáshat are the roots from which the branches spread themselves.” The meaning of the word here appears to lie a book of collections of recipes and observations, which a physician makes during the course of his practice. At least in the enumeration of the works of the different physicians, Syrians especially, almost every one is s:tid to have composed a Kuunash, The word is probably derived from the Syriae “to collect.” In Codd. Marsh, 158, 547, it is written, See Nicoll's Cat. p. 590.Google Scholar Solomon Negif renders it Syutagma. Gildemeister—following as it appears, Dietz—has fallen into the error of mistaking the words So commonly used to express similarity or resemblance, for the title of a book; Librum dc Mcdicina Yag'ri Magri Inscriptum, p. 95.Google Scholar The word probably, being omitted in the MS. made use of.

page 107 note 1 Haji Khalfa assigns this book to Kankah, and not to

page 107 note 2 These names are given in different order in two Mss. of this work in the Bodleian Library. In MS. Pocock, No.356, they occur in the following order, the alternate names being written in red ink:

In Cod. Muntingdon, No. 171:

page 107 note 3 The full title of this work is Muhammad bn Zaeariya Alrazi died A.h. 311.

page 107 note 4 Haji Khalfa mentions this book. I quote the passage entire, because it shows that he obtained his information respecting this book, and probably all the others, from lbn Abú Usaibiâh.

The two MSS. in Bodleian Library above mentioned, read

page 107 note 5 Grand Vazir of Hárán Alrashíd, put to death, together with his soil Jaàfar. by order of that Khalif, A.h. 107.

page 108 note 1 MS. Poe. 356. Reads

page 108 note 2 Haji Khalfa.

page 108 note 3 Mentioned by Haji Khalfa, thus

page 108 note 4 This is called by Haji Khalfa and in the next, for he reads MS. Poe. and Haji Khalfa also notices

page 108 note 5 This may perhaps bo translated, “A book on the opinion of the Indians, &c.”

page 108 note 6 Haji Khalfa reads

page 109 note 1 Haji Khalfa, thus

page 109 note 2 In a treatise on the Veterinary Art, in the Bodleian, in Poeock 360, called and in MS. Poe. 129, an extract is given from an Indian book on this subject, by an author named Jannah

page 110 note 1 Not in Haji Khalfa.

page 110 note 2 There is no book with the title mentioned in the copy of Haji Khalfa in the British Museum.

page 111 note 1 lbn Sina defines thus: “It is a pain on one side of the head.”— Galenus ⋯μιχράνιον.

page 111 note 2 Jabril was a physician in high repute and favour at the court of Bagdad, during the reigns of Harun Alrashíd and his two sons, Amin and Mamún. His life, translated into Latin, from the Arabic of Ibn Abú Usaibiàh, by Solomon Negri, has been published by Dr. Friend, at the end of his second volume of the History of Physick from the time of Galen to the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, 4to. London, 1725.Google Scholar

page 111 note 3 He wrote a history of physicians, entitled Vide Haji Khalfa.

page 114 note 1 Hanút is the name of every kind of seent that is mixed for dead bodies.—Kamus.

page 114 note 2 Kundus is the root of a plant which is yellow inside and black out. It operates as an emetic and a purging medicine, and clears away the ringworm. When it is reduced to powder and blown up the nose it causes sneezing and enlightens the weary eyes, and stops blindness.—Kamus.

page 116 note 1 A.d. 1420. Colebrooke on the Arithmetic and Algebra of the Hindus. Inlrod. xxv.

page 116 note 2 Ibid. p. LXU.