Ancient Islamic Scientists

Anne Leighty, Andrew Bradley, and Evan Meade

Created: December, 2013

Rhazes (865-925 AD)

Rhazes

Muhammed ibn Zakariya al-Razi. Also known as Razis or Rhazes. Persian philosopher and physician
by Abu Shawka, used under

Abubakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi (865–925) is known to the western world as Rhazes. At a young age, his first interests were music and art, but later he invested his time in philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and mainly medicine. After finishing medical school in Baghdad, he went back to take charge of a hospital in his native city. Later in life he decided to build a more modern hospital in Baghdad and focused on making improvements to the hospitals currently in use. He devised a separate ward for patients experiencing mental diseases. He also influenced students by creating different sets of rounds for patients depending on the student’s level in medical school. There are twenty-six books written about different medical disorders, but most of them are focused on nervous system disorders. He is thought to have pioneered the methods of differential diagnosis and clinical observations, both of which were critical to him being the first to be able to differentiate between measles and smallpox (Ligon, 2001, 266-272).

Other “Firsts” Attributed to Rhazes
Account of extraction of a cataract
Book on pediatrics
Clear and detailed descriptions of scrotal gangrene (1000 years before Fournier)
Description of bladder paralysis caused by spinal cord tumor
Description of the laryngeal branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Differentiation between smallpox and measles
Discussion of pupillary reaction
Mention of the use of nonmetallic catheters
Monograph on smallpox
Recognition of allergic rhinitis
Recorded instance of psychiatric aftercare
Suggestion of a blood-borne disease (smallpox)
Use of alcohol for medical purposes
Use of animal gut as a ligature in surgical operations
Use of chemical preparation, especially mercurial ointment, in medical practice
Use of hot, moist compresses to cover the intestines during abdominal operations
Use of opium for anesthesia

Figure 1: Table of medical techniques that were first attributed to Rhazes (Ligon, 2001, 266-272)

Although Rhazes has not been recognized as a pioneer in neurosciences, he made many considerable contributions. He is credited with the introduction of differential diagnostics in neurology and was the first to correctly describe a concussion. He carefully classified nerves into sensory and motor functions. He believed motor neurons controlled muscles and tendons, while skin nerves have a sensory function. Rhazes also recognized that nerves from the brain and spinal cord are paired. He looked at different spinal injuries and clarified how they affect the body (Mehdizadeh, Mohagheghzadeh, Zargaran, & Zarshenas. 2012. pp. 1001-1002). For example, cervical nerve injuries may result in paralysis of the hands and arms.

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Illustration of the Human Nervous System
by Sue Clark , used under

 

In regards to treatment, Rhazes preferred special diets above drug therapy. He actually did not encourage the use of unnecessary medications and compound medicines. He classified drug routes for neurological diseases into oral, nasal, and topical forms. Rhazes also emphasized that there was more importance in treating the actual nerve in a neurological disorder, than treating the areas affected. He also was the first to use opium as an anesthetic in surgery. He was very involved in the medical and drug treatments of his patients.

Rhazes died on October 27, 925 at the age of sixty. Rhazes left behind a legacy that many people are unaware of. Many of his methods were used by scholars and applied to later work. He is currently looked to as an inspiration for modern researchers in neuroscience (Mehdizadeh et al., 2012. pp. 1001-1002) His contributions to medicine often go unnoticed by those in the Western World. In Iran, Rhazes birthday, August 27th, is celebrated annually as “the day of the pharmacist.”

 

 

Muḥammad_ibn_Mūsā_al-Khwārizmī

Al-Khwarizmi, Scholar
by ms , used under

Al-Khwarizmi was born in 780 A.D. and died somewhere between 830 and 850 A.D. The date of his death is not confirmed because a man living with the same name, who was also a scholar and scientist, lived in the same city during this time period. Because of this, specific information about the personal lives of both individuals is not certain. He spent his life as a scholar and scientist at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. His studies and areas of expertise were focused on astronomy and also mathematics, specifically algebra.  He wrote many books covering a wide variety of topics in both subjects while he was alive. (Arndt, 1983, 668-670)

 

His astronomical studies and explorations focused on the consolations of stars and planets that were visible to him. He was interested in how the distances between the stars and planets affected where the earth was in relation to them and how the earth rotated. Al-Khwarizmi’s most impressive accomplishment as a scholar was planning, developing, and writing an algebra textbook titled Al-Kitab Al-jabr wa’ll muqabalah. This academic textbook focused on cancellation and balancing, which are algebraic concepts he discovered through his scholarly work. (Arndt, 1983, 668-670)

 

Image-Al-Kitāb_al-muḫtaṣar_fī_ḥisāb_al-ğabr_wa-l-muqābala

Al-Kitab Al-jabr wa’ll muqabalah
by Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khawarizmi , used under

 

Al-Khawarizmi changed the world of mathematics forever. The way he looked and saw the subject of algebra lead him to many great discoveries that will be used for so many years to come. He left a legacy behind that would be respected by every scholar in the world. His textbook and teachings are still used today in both algebra and astronomy classrooms alike.

Geber (721-815 AD)

Geber

Jabir ibn Hayyan by unknown author, used under

Jabir ibn Hayyan (721-815), formally known by Europeans as Geber, was an eighth century alchemist who is commonly referred to as the Father of Alchemy or Chemistry.  Born to a pharmacist in Tarcus, Turkey, Geber had a natural born interest in the sciences and began studying the Koran, mathematics, and other sciences underneath the famous scholars Harbi al-Himyari and Ja’far al-Sadiq.  Both of these men encouraged Geber to succeed to the max of his potential.  However, Ja’far’s reputation would prove to be detrimental to Geber’s success when their relationship resulted in Geber’s house arrest.  He would remain under arrest for the rest of his life until his death in 815 (“Jabir ibn Hayyan, 2001).

 

geber equipment

 Different techniques and equipment used by Geber
by unknown author, used under

Geber most particularly contributed to the field of chemistry although he was commonly known as an alchemist.  Instead of placing focus on the preparations and the interactions of noble gases, Geber was more interested in mechanisms and interactions that take place within a molecule and chemical reaction.  Through these interests, he was able to perfect a variety of scientific techniques ranging from distillation and crystallization to sublimation and evaporation.    In fact, many of these techniques were used and perfected while he discovered numerous minerals and acids, most importantly acetic acid found in vinager (“Jabir ibn Haiyan (Geber), 2000).  Other important acids include: nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid (“Jabir ibn Hayyan, 2001).

 

 

 

References
1. A. B. ARNDT The Mathematics Teacher , Vol. 76, No. 9 (December 1983), pp. 668-670 Published by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27963784

2. Clark, S. (2009). Illustration of the Human Nervous System. [Photographic reproduction]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/14277117@N03/3974877876/in/photolist-74fhHb-7jaFop-7jaFH4-7jaG3P-7jaGJp-7jaHDD-7jaJA8-7jaKRZ-7jaMap-7jaMvz-7jaNd6-7jaNN2-7jaPCZ-7jeyHA-7jez5o-7jeAsQ-7jeB8U-7jeBq7-7jeC61-7jeCny-7jeCYj-7jeDjb-7jeEhY-7jeECS-7jeEYL-7jeFZs-7jeGBj-7jeHkh-7jeJ5h-7jeJnu-7jeJGj-7x9Pax-7x9PH8-7xdLW3-9zXghe-9A1eZq-9A1eYC-9A1eZ1-aTwFAp-aTx7ki-aKpzbk-aKpCjX-aKpvZe-aKpAs6-aTwKi8-aTxghx-aTxdxX-aKpEBD-aTxbdM-aKpuh2-d9NNYu

3. Jabir Ibn Haiyan (Geber). (2000). Retrieved December 1, 2013, from The Window: “Jabir ibn Hayyan.” World of Chemistry. Gale, 2006. Biography in Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

4. Jabir ibn Hayyan. (2006). Retrieved December 2, 2013, from World of Chemistry: http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search

5. Ligon, B. (2001).Biography: Rhazes: His career and His Writing.Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Disease, 12(3), 266-272.

6. Mehdizadeh, A., Mohagheghzadeh, A.,Zargaran, & Zarshenas, M. (2012). Rhazes. Journal of Neurology, 259(5), 1001-1002.

7. Muhammad, A. (2007). Al-Kitab Al-jabr wa’ll muqabalah. [Photographic reproduction]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Image-Al-Kitāb_al-muḫtaṣar_fī_ḥisāb_al-ğabr_wa-l-muqābala.jpg

8. M,S. (2013). Al-Khwarizmi, Scholar. Photographic reproduction]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muḥammad_ibn_Mūsā_al-Khwārizmī.png

9. Shawka, A. (2012). Muhammed ibn Zakariya al-Razi. Also known as Razis or Rhazes. Persian philosopher and physician. [Photographic reproduction]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muhammed_ibn_Zakariya_al-Razi_-_Rhazes_-_Persian_philosopher_and_physician.jpg. Public domain image.

10. VI.5 Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī. (2008). In The Princeton Companion to Mathematics. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.butler.edu/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/prcm/vi_5_abu_ja_far_muhammad_ibn_m%C5%ABs%C4%81_al_khw%C4%81rizm%C4%AB

11. Unknown Author. (1897). Different techniques and equipment used by Geber. [Photographic reproduction]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PSM_V51_D390_Old_stills_from_an_early_edition_of_geber.png

12. Unknown Author. (2005). Jabir ibn Hayyan. [Photographic reproduction]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jabir_ibn_Hayyan.jpg. Public domain image.