OBJECT Kitāb al-Dhakhīra fī 'Ilm al-Ṭibb is one of Thābit b. Qurra's most noteworthy books on medicine in Arabic in the 9th century. This study aims to present and discuss… Click to show full abstract
OBJECT Kitāb al-Dhakhīra fī 'Ilm al-Ṭibb is one of Thābit b. Qurra's most noteworthy books on medicine in Arabic in the 9th 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 Maṭba'a 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. CONCLUSION Kitāb al-Dhakhīra presents interesting knowledge regarding wounds in the head, reflecting the medical paradigm of that era.
               
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