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    Session 13 - Ibn Sina On Materia Medica - Siddiqi

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    Aroob

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    Indian Journal of History of Science, 21(4) : 326—357 (1986) IBN SINA ON MATERIA MEDICA TAZIMUDDIN SrppIQI Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research Hamdard Nagar Now Delhi 110062 Abii ‘Ali al-Husain bin ‘Abdullah ibn Sina, popularly known as Shaikh al- Ra‘is in the East and Avicenna in the West, was born in 980 a.p. in Afshana, a village in Bukh ira and died in 1037 a.. at Hamdan. Within this short life of 57 years, the carlier years of which were spent in his own education, Ibn Sina managed to write or compile a surprisingly large number of books and tracts (Rasa’il)—from 43 according to his biographer Shaikh Abi ‘Ubaid ‘Abd al-Wahid al Juzjani? to 276 according to Father A awati The most influential of all these books is his al- Qaniin f’'t-Tibb whose Latin translation by Gerard of Cremona served as a text-book of medicine in the Univorsities of St. Louis, Montpellier, Louvain, Leipzig and Tue- bingen for several centuries. Al-Qaniin was issued sixteen times in the last 30 years of the 15th century and 20 times in the 16th century. Whereas in the West al-Qinin continued to be taught till the 18th century, in the East it is still included in the syllabi of colleges for the education of Greco-Arab Medicine. ALQanin ft Tibb runs into five volumes or books spreading over some 2000 pages and containing about a million words. ‘The five books are : (1) General Principles of Medicine ; (2) Materia Medica ; (3) Particular Therapy ; (4) General Therapy ; and (5) Formulary. Scholars wrote commentaries on al-Qaniin and produced its abridged versions which in tun necded further commentaries. ‘Ihe most comprehensive commenta- ries on the first book of al-Qaniin are those by Qutb al-Din and Majid Amli. Only two commentaries cover all the five books, one by Ibn Nafis and the other by Hakim ‘Ali Husain Gilani, the court-physician of Akbar. Two abridgements of the entire al-Qaniin, one Mijaz al-Qanun by Ibn al-Nafis Qarshi and the other, al-Qanuncha by Sharf al-Din Muhammad bin ‘Umar al-Chaghmini, became very popular and are even today included in study courses. Within one hundred years of Ibn Sina’s death, al-Qanun was translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona. A Russian translation of al-Qaniin was published at ‘Tashkent between 1954 and 1960. In the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent when Urdu gained ascendancy as a common language and people shifted their attention from Arabic and Persian to Urdu, the necessity of an Urdu translation was keenly felt. IBN SINA ON MATERTA MEDICA 327 In India, the first Urdu translation of all the five books of al-Qaniin was completed by Hakim Ghulam Hasnain Kanthuri and published in 1896 by Matha‘ Nawal Kishore, Lucknow. Hakim Kabjruddin translated the first book of al-Qanin in Urdu and published it with the title Tarjama wa Sharh Kulliyat-i Qanan in 1930 from Delhi. In 1945 Hakim Khwaja Ridwan Ahmad also translated the first book of al-Qanun into Urdu. The second edition of this translation was published in 1952 by Shaikh Ghulam ‘Ali and Sons, Lahore, Pakistan. Dr 0. Cameron Gruner, M.D., London, translated the first book of al-Qanin into English and Luzac and Company, London, published it in 1930. It covers 612 pages, The title page reads : A TREATISE on Tue Canon or MEDICINE oF AVICENNA Incorporating 4 TRANSLATION OF THE Frrst Book By O. Cameron Grower, M.D., Loxpon Dr M. H. Shah, F.R.C.P., Karachi, Pakistan, also translated the first book of al-Qanin into English, published by Naveed Clinic, Karachi, Pakistan, 1960. The title page of this translation reads : GENERAL PRINCIPLES or AvicENNA’s CANON OF MEDICINE Maznar H. Sua, F.R.C.P. However, there remains need for a good and correct translation of all the five books of al-Qanun into English direct from Arabic, since the translation of Gruner is based on the Latin translation and that of Shah on the Urdu translation. The Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, has undertaken the arduous task of translating the entire Qinun into English directly from the original Arabic text. A team is working on the project under the supervision of Hakim ‘Abdul Hameed, the President of the Institute. The transla- tion of the first two books is undergoing revision which may take some time. Before the translation was undertaken, a critical edition of the Qanin (in Arabic) was pre- pared with due care and after comparison with old manuscripts and printed editions. ‘This critical edition is being released at the end of this seminar. This paper is based on the actual translation of the second book of al-Qaniin At-Tibb, which is of Mifradab (imple drugs or Materia Medica). 328 TAZIMUDDIN SIDDIQI The book begins with a preface in which Ibn Sind says : “By the name of God who is tue most gracious and merciful. All praise is due to God ; aad peace be on those servants of His, whom He has chosen. After praising God and praying for His Prophet Muhammad and his progeny, I say that this book is the second in the series of books which I have compiled on the science of medicine. The first book which deals with general principles of medicine is already complete. The second is this which deals with simple drugs. I have divided it into two discourses. The first discourse is course is divide temperaments of simple drugs; (HI) On tomperaments of simplo drugs determined by experience ; (IIT) On temperaments of simple drugs determined by analogy ; (IV) On actions and potencies of drugs ; (V) Certain rules applying to drugs ; and (VI) On collection and storage of drugs. “In the second discourse I shall describe simplo drugs in the manner that one specific thing will be stated in one column—there being different columns for different things. T have divided the schedule or chart (Jawh) of simple drugs into 16 columns which are : (1) This column shall give the name of the drug. Only that name, Greek or Arabic, which is popular among the physicians, shall be given. It shall also be specified whether it is an animal drug, vogotable drug or mineral drug and what part or parts of it aro used. (2) It shall specify the best variety of tho drug. (8) It shall give the tomperament of the drag and its degrees. (4) It shall mention the properties and actions of the drug—whether these be specific or non-specific. (5) It shall mention whether a certain drug has some properties to act as @ cosmetic. (6) In this column propertios, actions of drugs in relation to swellings and pustules shall bo noted. (7) In this column properties and actions of drugs in relation to wounds and ulcers shall be noted. (8) This column shall specify those drugs which are useful for diseases of the joints. (9) This column shall specify those drags which are useful for diseases of the head. IBN SINA ON MATERIA MEDIOA 329 (10) It shall mention drugs used in diseases of the eye. (11) It shall notify drugs used in diseases of respiratory organs. (12) It shall name the drugs used in alimentary diseases. (13) It shall name the drugs used in relation to excretory organs. (14) It shall be for drugs used in fevers. (15) It shall relate to antidotes. (16) It shall notify drugs which may be used as substitutes.” The library of the Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, possesses the following : (1) Photostat copy of the Aya Sofia (Istanbul) manuscript of al-Qaniin which was transcribed in 618 AH. (2) Al-Qaniun printed at Rome in 1593 (4.D.) (3) Al-Qaniin, Bulag edition, Cairo, printed in 1294 a.m. (4) AL-Qanin, printed at Tebran in 1296 4.1. (5) Al-Qiniin, printed at Nami Press, Lucknow, India, in 1223 4.u/1906 4.0. None of the above contains the tables or charts or schedules having the above columns, §. A. ‘Ali has correctly observed: “One does not know whether such charts were at all prepared. If they were, they are lost to us. They would have helped much in the understanding of certain parts of al-Qaniun.”? After stating the headings of the 16 columns, the book begins with Section I which embodies genoral principles applying to temperaments of drugs. Tempera- ments constitute one of the fundamental theories of Greco-Arab Medicine and are included in th essential constituents of human life), which are seven i i ich thero can be no existence. ‘These ), Ada’ (orga, ; 5). and Arad (iit, pnewna). Isp Sina on TemreRaMents or Sorte Drves Section I, Book IT Ibn Sina states as follows : “When we say ‘This drug is hot’, ‘this is cold’, ‘this is humid’ or ‘this is dry’, we mean that these qualities are in respect of or in relation to our bodies.......... We do not, however, mean ta say that the temperament of a drug is the same as that of a man, for the temperament of man is exclusively his own.......... When simple drugs are intermingled and compounded so as 330. TAZIMUDDIN SIDDIQT to become one, they acquire a second temperament...... When a part of certain drug reaches an organ, the other ingredients having an affinity with the former would follow it. Thus by their conjunction is produced an effect which penetrates equally into all parts of this organ. ‘There are drugs which have contrary potencies and in which total fusion is not found, e.g.(@kemop |) Selene irr td sng oper...” thw rugs whose potencies can be dispersed t coctin, e.g., cabbage. When it is cooked in water its datergent matter is dissolved in water while the earthy astringent matter remains. The cabbage-water becomes purgative while its remaining substance becomes astringent. There are certain drugs whose components are separated by washing, like endive and most of the grains ...... Some drugs contain two substances with different temperaments without mixing completely with each other.” Ibn Sina has given reasons for the different behaviours of drugs in relation to temperaments. Drugs have different degrees of temperament, ¢.g., hot in the first or second or third or fourth degree. e thi Dereemination oF THE DEGREE OF TEMPERAMENT oF SmmpLty Daves TuroveH ExpeRtMent Section II, Book II Tbn Sma says: “In order to determine the degree of temperament of a drug by experi- ment it is necessary that : (i) The drug should be free from an extensive alteration or transformation taking place in its substance or combination of something elso with it. For example, water though intrinsically cold becomes hot when placed on fire; or almond, which is intrinsically moderate becomes very hot when rotten. (ii) The experiment should be based on simple diseases. If the disease is the result of two causes demanding two different treatments and the experiment of a drug on both of them becomes successful it would be difficult to determine the exact cause of success. (iii) The drug should be tried in different cases, If the drug proves to be useful in all these cases it would not be proper to say that the drug has a contradictory temperament—for it might have been useful in the case of a particular disease-intrinsically and.in the case of another disease IBN SiNA ON MATERIA MEDICA 331 (5) cxtrinsicatly. Seemmouy is an example. (GGRMOBYGE tried in a cold disease is likely to be useful through its heat. If tried in a hot disease, e.g., tertian fever, it may prove useful through its action of evacuating the bile. In such cases our experiment would not ensure the hotness or coldness of the drug unless we are in a position to distin. guish the intrinsic act of the drug from tho extrinsic one. (iv) Tho drug should, both in quality and in quantity, bein just proportion to the nature and severity of the disoase...... It is, therefore, necessary to try a drug initially in cases of milder diseases and then gradually proceed till the potential of the drug is firmly established. (v) Tho time at which the drug has proved effective should be noted, If the effect appears soon after the administration of the drug, one may conclude that the effect is natural to the drug. On the other hand, if the effect appearing in the beginning is in sharp contrast with that appearing at the last round of the experiment, or the drug remains inactive at the outset to react at the end only, then it would be a doubt- ful and difficult case. Here it may be assumed that the effect of the drug was only accidental...... Some substances produce their original effect after they have produced thoir first accidental effect. This gene- rally happens when such substances acquire a foreign power which over- rides the physical (original) one. For example, hot water remains hot presently but next day it loses heat (which was merely accidental) and it shall cause coldness in the body. (vi) ‘Tho action of the drug should be watched constantly to find out whether the action is one and the same in all or in most of the cases. If it is not 80, the action may be regarded as temporary and accidental. (i) CSE SASH) 2 don sme other body the result may be diverse for two reasons : (1) the drug which is hot in relation to human body may possibly be cold for a lion or a horse.,.... For instance, Revand Chini (Rheum emodi), I think, is cold for the body of a horse though hot for the human body ; (2) a drug may have one property in relation to one b mui a “but no fr 4 string On temperament of drugs Ibn Sina says in Book I, Section XV of al-Qanun, (English translation by M. H. Shah, p. 184 onward). “Medicines (or drugs) have four grades of potency. Grade I drugs are those which, in specified doses, do not produce any appreciable effect on the body, for instance, heat or cold produced by them is not felt at all unless the 332 TAZIMUDDIN SIDDIQI drug is taken repeatedly or in large doses. Grade II drugs are those which are a little more potent than Grade I but are neither so potent as to produce any visible disturbance in the functions of the body nor do they per se inter- fere with the normal course of physiological functions except secondarily, It is only when administered repeatedly and in larger doses that they produce any visible damage or disturbance of normal functions. Grade IIT drugs are those which in specified doses produce per se notable disturbance of normal fonctions of the body but not to the extent of producing disease or death unless taken repeatedly or in larger doses than normal. Grade IV drugs are those which produce damage or destruction (of the body). This action refers to poisonous drugs which act by their characteristic qualities but a substance which is lethal by its specific nature is a true poison. All subs- tances which come in contact with the body and act and react upon it are of three types : (1) those which are altered by the body but do not produce any change in the body ; (2) those which are altered by the body and produce changes in it ; and (3) those which are not altered by the body but even then produce changes in it. Substances which are altered (metabolized) by the body but do not produce any appreciable change are: (a) nutritive food articles in general which become a part of the body; and (b) non-nutritive substances which are the balanced medicines. Substances which are altered by the body and also produce changes in it are those (i) whose action ccases after digestion and are (a) assimilable as the medicinal foods, and (b) non- assimilable as the actual medicines; and (ii) which continue to act even after digestion until they produce destructive changes in the body. These are poisonous medicines. nutritional substances pI ein natural consequence because their conversion into blood leads to a natural increase of heat (energy) in the body. This heat is, however, not the same as the heat produced by drugs even before their digestion and alteration just as the body alters the material of medicinal foods, it also alters their qualities. This qualitative change, however, occurs before their regular digestions, In this way some medici are hot and immediately p le certain other foods are cold and mal ‘The physicians did not work any mathematical formula or mechanical device to quantify the degrees of the temperament of drugs. However, from their observa- tions and long experience they laid down and adopted some simple tests, For example, Hakim Muhammad Akbar Arzanj says in his book Mufarrah al-Qulub as follows: IBN SINA ON MATERIA MEDICA 333, “As human beings are endowed with different temperaments, drugs also have their own temperament or a combination of temperaments ranging from first to fourth degree. A drug may be of hot, cold, moist, or dry tem- perament. It may be having a combination; for example, it may be hot and dry, hot and moist, cold and dry, or cold and moist. It may be hot in the first degree and dry in the first degree, and so on, A drug may be mode- rate, ic. of equable temperament, equable in coldness, heat, moistaess and dryness. Tho physicians started with a human being of sound health and equable temperament as a base. dfsaydrugeadministeredstoysuchsaeperson affected him medically or medicinally but did not create any discernible

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