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Figure 12. — Golden bridge to stabilize shaky teeth. Top, from original Arabic manuscript 

 (Tiib. MS. 91), courtesy Universitatsbibliothek Tubingen. Left, from Argellata 1531, 

 courtesy National Library of Medicine. Right, from Channing, Albucasis. 



In like manner, al-Zahrawi discusses cautery of the 

 stomach and the "cold liver" in chapters 26 and 27, 

 respectively. The drawings therein represent shapes 

 of the burns on the skin (fig. 4) and marks of ink to be 

 drawn beneath the cartilage of the ribs (fig. 5) for the 

 purpose of spotting the area of operation. Here also 

 he describes carefully and clearly the methods of 

 applying cautery and the types, position, and number 

 of tools employed in each case. He likewise depicts 

 (in chapter 45) instruments used in the treatment 

 of hernia (fig. 6). 



The second section (bab), with about 99 chapters,'" 

 deals with incision, puncturing, venesection, cupping, 

 surgery on abscesses, and the withdrawal of arrows 

 from the body. Al-Zahrawi warns that ignorance in 

 such operations may lead to damage of an artery or 

 vein, causing loss of blood "by which life is sus- 

 tained." -^ Moreover, needle and thread (more than 

 one kind is mentionedj for the stitching of wounds are 

 repeatedly recommended. 



According to al-ZahrawI, foreign bodies that lodge 

 in the ear (chapter 6) are of four origins: (1) "min- 

 eral stones" or substances resembling mineral stones 

 such as iron and glass; (2) plant seeds (chick-peas and 



2" The contents of several manuscripts (such as Ali 2854. 

 Wien 476 A, Bes. 503, and Tiib. MS. 91) give diflferent numbers, 



21 See, for example, Tiib. MS. 91, fol. 45v; and Bes. 502, 

 fol. 530v. 



beans); (3) liquids, such as water and vinegar; and (4) 

 animals, such as fleas. Several instruments are recom- 

 mended for the removal of such foreign bodies — fine 

 tweezers shaped like a dropper (fig. 7), a syringe 

 with plunger-pump, and a tube made of silver or 

 copper (fig. 8). Also of interest to pharmacy and 

 therapy is the advice in regard to the use of lubricants 

 to be applied before administering these fine instru- 

 ments into the body's cavities. 



Chapter 24 is concerned with the treatment of the 

 polypus that grows in the nose. The various kinds 

 (including cancer growth), shapes, and colors of this 

 type tumor and its treatment by surgery or medicine 

 are described. A hollowed nose-dropper made of 

 metal in the shape of a small kerosene lamp -^ is sug- 

 gested (fig. 9). The dropper is held by its handle 

 while its contents are heated before use. Applying 

 heat to nose drops was probably proposed because it 

 serves two purposes: it allows easier flow of the 

 "duhn," or the fatty substance used, and it raises the 

 temperature of the drops to that of the body. 



In his discussion on dental hygiene, ^^ al-Zahrawi 



22 Sudhoff, op. cit. (footnote 10), p. 29, fig. 6. 



23 For a more detailed and interesting discussion with 

 beautiful illustrations included, the reader may consult Ch. 

 Niel, "La Chirurgie Dentaire D'Abulcasis Comparee a celle 

 des Maures du Trarza," Revue de Stematologie, April 1911, 

 vol. 18, pp. [169]-180 and 222-229. 



PAPER 22: DRAWINGS AND PHARMACY IN AL-ZAHRAWfs SURGICAL TREATISE 



89 



