Islamset - Salient Features of the Two Manuals

A History of Muslim Pharmacy:
Salient Features of the Two Manuals

As stated earlier; al-Ghafiqi followed the interpretations and procedures of Dioscorides and Galen in mentioning drug synonyms, their physical properties and their modes of action on the various human ailments. The translation by Meyerhof and Sobhy provides scores of examples with commentaries to those interested in this detail. Occasional comparisons with al-Biruni's discussions of the same simples were also included. The following, however, is intended to give the reader a feeling for the presentation and style, and will show the author's originality and independence in personal observation. The entry on spiny cytisus (Arabic, Dar Shishaghan) was selected here at random because it brings out most of the elements referred to in our discussion. In describing this plant al-Ghafiqi states: 'It is a kind of spinous broom (Calycotome spinosa Lk.), about the size of a shrub, sweet smelling and grows on certain seashores. It is known as al-Qundul (in al-Andalus), and azaruy in the Berber tongue.' The author then quotes what Dioscorides and Galen wrote of it. He also describes how druggist use it to give astringency to anointing oils (adhan), and mentions its two kinds, which were recommended for healing putrid ulcers.

Yet he points out that the blood-reddish or purplish in color, when the bark is peeled off, was preferred. He thereafter adds: 'I say that the name Dar Shishaghan in Syriac is, Qisadi-Nardin. It is also called 'ud sunbul (nard-wood) when the wood has an odor similar to that of nard. In our country (al-Andalus), some use julaq wood as a substitute. Others wrongly use the flowers" for the ancients said expressly that the julaq is wood, not flowers. The truth is that it is a kind of julaq, the inferior, odorless type of the spinous broom which Dioscorides referred to. Indeed, there are several varieties of it; some large, often leafless, others small haying tiny soft leaves like the leaves of the myrtle plants that grow among the thorns. All grow yellow flowers, some odoriferous, others odorless, and still others develop small pods with seeds or turn into grains sprouting like those of the juniper.

The so-called Dar Shishaghan is one of these thorny, leafless varieties with many tiny twigs issuing from one root. It branches out as if it were a basket full of thorns emptied on the ground, and is green like the color of cabbage leaves. The twigs are purplish red and fragrant. There is another much better kind with a stem that carries it up, with a thick, hard wood, yellow from the outside but red and odoriferous inside having sharp, thin and thick thorns with tiny twigs which branch and sprout upward at the top of its stem. Among the leaves there are very tiny leaves or yellow-golden flowers and small pods in which three yellow grains are enveloped. It grows on mountains covered with trees producing grains with sweet aroma. The two kinds grow in abundance on sea shores and the one I am more acquainted with is identified with that described by Dioscorides and other ancients.'

According to Yunis b. Tamim, the Dar Shishaghan is identified by Iraqi pharmacists as the Egyptian pomegranate tree having yellow, hard, odoriferous wood and fruit called al-bull (bael-fruits) containing pulp (al-lubb), an astringent and a remedy useful in fevers.'

The same simple of spiny broom (preferably spelled in Arabic as DarShaysh'an) was succinctly but clearly described by al-Biruni (see original text in the Karachi- Pakistan edition of Hakim Mohammed Said et al, 1973, p. 189) as follows: 'It is a thick, thorny three that gives styptic effect when mixed with anointing oils. The taste of the rind is pungent, of the flowers is sharp, and of the wood is astringent and cold. The ponde-rous type is the most preferred by
[druggists] .When the wood is peeled off it exhibits. red to purplish color and it has a slightly bitter taste. The whitish type is inferior and almost odorless. The berries have the same reddish color as that of the wood, and are hard, slippery to touch, shiny, heavy and bitter tasting.'

Comparison of the two entries shows similarities of essential information in both. This confirms the belief of unified and often referred to original sources. Al-Biruni, however, seems to be more careful than al-Ghafiqi in giving credits to those authors from whom he copied. Among the Greek writings, most important are those by Dioscorides, Galen, Oribasius, and Paulus. Among the Syriac and Arabic, mention was made of sahar Bath, Ibn Masawayh, ar-Razi, and al-Arrajani. A!-Biruni quotes at the beginning of his discussion the statements made by the latter (al-Arrajani, a fourth/tenth century physician-botanist whose work is apparently lost since).