Wounds in the Head from Kitāb al-Dhakhīra fī 'Ilm al-Ṭibb by Thābit b. Qurra in the Ninth Century

Abstract

Objective: Kitāb al-Dhakhīra fī 'Ilm al-Ṭibb is one of Thābit b. Qurra's most noteworthy books on medicine in Arabic in the ninth century. This study aims to present and discuss the section subtitled "wounds in the head" in the 24th chapter of Kitāb al-Dhakhīra considering the information in the literature.

Materials and methods: This study is primarily based on a copy of Kitāb al-Dhakhīra edited by Dr. G. Sobhy and printed in al-Maṭba'at al-Āmīriyya, Cairo in 1928. It is compared with the manuscript, which is in the Şehit Ali Paşa Collection, nr. 2028, in the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library in İstanbul, Turkey. The 24th chapter was first translated into English and then examined. The acquired knowledge from the chapter is discussed in this study by comparing it with that on this subject from the literature regarding the history of medicine.

Results: The 24th chapter, entitled "On Wounds and Wounds in the Head and Hemorrhage from Them and from Other Wounds and on Gently Drawing Arrowhead/Spearhead and Thorn," includes a section subtitled "wounds in the head." This section provides information regarding steps to be taken if the head is simply wounded or if there is an accompanying swelling, how to control hemorrhage, which medicines should be used for treatment, and how to bandage wounds in the head, but unfortunately, it specifies no details regarding surgical interventions for such wounds.

Conclusions: Kitāb al-Dhakhīra presents interesting knowledge regarding wounds in the head, reflecting the medical paradigm of that era.

Keywords: History of medicine; History of neurosurgery; Kitāb al-Dhakhīra fī ʿIlm al-Ṭibb; Thābit b. Qurra; Wounds in the head.