Bull.Ind.Inst.Hist.Med. Vol. XXX - 2000 pp 1I l 10//6 ALAUDDIN QARSHI - A COMMENTATOR OF MANY CLASSICAL TREATISES S.A. HUSAIN •

ABSTRACT

This article deals with the life and work of a commentator of six authentic works. He was a discoverer of pulmonary circulation of blood. He described it more or less accurately, almost three centuries before Harvey (1578-1657). The views of medical historians about this scholar have been given in this article.

Alauddin Abul Hasan Ali' bin al Hazro 1. Ibn al Quff (The author of "Kitabul- al Qarshi is also called by some authors as Umda Fil Jarahah," an arabic book on Ibn al Nafis or An Nafis. He is to be surgery. This book has already been distinguished from Nafis bin Awaz published from Dairatul Maarif, Hyderabad). al Kirmani, who besides wrote a commentary 2. AI Sadeed al Asyati, 3. Abul Faraj AI- Sikandari 4. Al Badr Hasan al Rais 5. Ibn ul on "AI Asbab wal Alamat" of Najeebuddin Burhan Jerrai 6. Ibn Abi Useibia. (The wel Samarqandi and gave it the title "Sharh known author of"Uyoonul Anba Fi tabaqatil Mojezul Qanoon". Medical historians have Atibba" an authentic arabic work of 13th given different statements about his place of Century A.D. containing the biographies of birth. According to Gulam Jeelani he was all world famous physicians including Indian born at Macka while other have mentioned physicians). Damascus as his place of birth. He got Qurshi died at the age of 78 years at medical education at the hospital of Cairo on 16 December 1288 AD. AS he was Nooruddin Zangi at Damascus. Among his not married he endowed his own house and teachers Mohazzabuddin Dakhwar and library to the Shifa Khana mansooria Imran Israili are the names worth to be (Mansooria hospital) constructed by Sultan mentioned. After completion of his medical Qalauddin. education he entered in the service of Qarshi had keen sight, research mind and Bimaristan of Cairo and got the post of command on Arabic language. Admitting "Raisul Atibba." There he started to teach the great value of his literary works some medicine to students. Among his disciples authors remembered him as Jaleenoos Sani the names of the following persons are found (Galen the Second) also. Qarshi wrote in history books with great praise. following six commentaries on different eminent works which have attained classical status:

• Assistant Research Officer, Indian Institute of History of Medicine, Osmania Medical College, Putlibowli, Hyderabad (India). 112 Bull.lnd.lnst.Hist.Med. Vol XXX - 2000

1. "Sham Qanoon Ibn Seena" Hippocrates entitled AI Ajinna which (a commentory on canon of Avicenna). deals with semen, featus and formation 2. "Sham Fusool Buqrat" of the feetal organs etc.). (a commentary on "Fusool," a book 5. "Tafaseer allIal wal asbab" written by Hippocrate. According to (a detailed discussion on causes and Hasan Nigrami this commentary has symptoms of the disease). already been printed in 1881 AD). 6. "Kitab al Shifa" (a book on cure). 3. "Sharh Tashreeh Jalinoos" 7. Kitab al Mawaleed Salasa (a commentary on Galen's work on (a book on three humours).

Anatomy). f' 8. "Risala Awarizul Atfal" (OnPaediatrics). 4. "Sham Masael Hunain,bin Ishaq" 9. "Sharh Hidaya" (a treatise on logic). (a commentary on the' propositions 10. "Jameul Daqaeq Fil Tibb" propounded by a Literary great scholar ( a comprehensive medical book). Hunain bin Ishaq). II. "Mojizul Qanoon" (practical work 5. "Sham Taqdeematul Marifa" which became popular through out the (a commentary on "Taqdeematul medical world. The work originally Marifa" Written by Galen). in Arabic, has been translated into 6. "Sham Isharat Ibn Seena" Persian). (a commentary on Isharat (Hints) compiled by Avicenna). Medical historians have praised Qurshi very much for his talents and medical works. Gulam Jeelani says that "Qarshi wrote Such as: Dr.Usman Khan a historian in his two commentaries on "Fusool Buqrat" article writes "Upon the whole earth there written by Hippocrate. One is called was not his equal nor had his equal been "Sageer" in which he wrote the text first then seen since Avicenna (according to his his commentary on the same. Another one contemporaries). " iscalled "Kabir which comprises the real text Sham suI Atibba Gulam Jeelani the then the commentary of the Galen lastly author ofTareekhul Atibba says "No one was submitted his remarks on both, the real text paralled to him at that time." M.Z.Siddiqui as well as the Galen's commentary. in the introduction of his book "Studies in Alauddin Qurshi wrote the following Arabic and persian medical literature" writes books in addition to the commentaries "An Egyptian Physician (Taufiq Susa) has mentioned above: shown that ibn. n Nafis (Alauddin Abul Ala Ali bin Abi Hazm al Qurshi al Dimashqui) 1. "Kitab al Mohazzab Fil Kohl" an Arab physician of the thirteenth century ( a book on Ophthalmology). (607-687A.H., 1210-1288 AD), in his 2. "Kitab al Shamil Fil Tibb" commentary on the anatomy of Avicenna, in (It comprises 30 volumes). striking contrast with him and Galen, 3. "Kitab al Mukhtar minal Agzia" described the lesser or pulmonary circulation (a book on diet). almost correctly nearly three centuries before 4. "Taleeq Ala Kitab Ajinna Le Abqarat" its discovery by Willam Harvey, who is (marginal notes or interlinear regarded as the father of modern medicine." explanatary work written by Alauddin Qarshi - Husain 113

Siddiqui under the footnote of his work these two chambers. He similarly explained mentioned above, gives a very good account that blood was purified in the lungs where it of another scholar's statement which runs as was refined on contact with the air hailed in follows "The sunday times (London) of the from the outer atmosphere .•... it should not ninth June, 1557, reported that Dr.J.Blatham be assumed too readily that great discoveries of the University of manchester wrote in in medicine were made only in Europe (Daily connection with the tercentenary of the death news paper the states men of Calcutta the of William Harvey, the discoverer ofthe fact 11th June, 1957)." of the circulation of blood, that Ibn, n Nafis, Nigrani says "The commentators of an Arab Physician, had discovered the Canon usually support the ideas stated by the essential principle of the pulmonary Shaik (A vicenna). Nobody gave any new circulation, which he described more or less idea or never tried to contradict Shaik except acurately, almost three centuries before any Qurshi, whose unbiased criticism is found on European." The Doctor said that Ibn Nafis every page of his commentary on Canon." "recognised the fallacy of Galen's theory of These opinions show us the greatness of invisible chennels between the ventricles and Qurshi and improve our zeal to go through also refuted Avicenna's supposition position the works compiled by him. that there was some visible link between 114 Bull.lnd.lnst.Hist.Med. Vol XXX - 2000

REFERENCES

1. Edward Bilter 1960 Hamdar Medical Digest under "The influen- ce of Ibn Nafis, a Linkage in Medical History." Hamdard Publications Karachi, Page Nos. 4-14.

2. Gulam Jeelani, 1912 Tareequl Atibba (Urdu), published by Tibbi kutub khana shamsul Atibha, Lahore, Page Nos. 362,489,646 and 647.

3. Hasan Nigrami 1989 Tareeq Tibb, published by Urdu Promotion Beauru, Page Nos. 325-332.

4. M.Z. Siddiqui 1959 Studies in Arabic and Persian Medical Literature, published by Calcutta University, Page No. XV.

5. O.P. Jaggi 1981 Medicine in Medieval India, published by Arma Ram & Sons Delhi, Page No. 55.

6. S.A. Rahman 1956 Hamdard Medical Digest "The discovery of blood circulation", Hamdard Publications Karachi, Page Nos. 45-62.

7. S.Elgood. 1951 Medical history of Persia, published by Cambridge University Press, Page No. 335

8. T.W. Beal 1971 An Oriental Biographical Dictionary by T. W. Beal, published by Ramesh Chandra Jain, - New Delhi, Page No. 50.

9. Osman Khan 1959 Distinguished physicians and authors of western caliphate, Hamdard Medical Digest, Hamdard Publications, Karachi, Page Nos. 2, 11 & 12. Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist, Med. Vol. XXX - 2000 115

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