Two medical texts
- Holding institution:
- British Library. India Office Records and Private Papers
- Data provider:
- Qatar National Library
- Title:
- Two medical texts
- Contributor:
- Patrick Russell (former owner)
- Date:
- 1676/1676
- Description:
- The manuscript was produced in Egypt as confirmed by the use in the colophon (f. 184v, lines 7-8, transcribed below) of the Coptic date alongside the hijrīyear. The copy was completed on 28 Hatūr 1393 (of the Coptic era)/28 Ramaḍān 1087/4 December 1676. A small note below the colophon gives the subsequent (collation?) date 18 Ṭūbah [1394] (of the Coptic era)/[29] Dhū al-Qa‘dah 1088/23 January 1678.The manuscript was probably collected by the Scottish surgeon and naturalist Patrick Russell (1726-1805) during his service as physician to the Levant Company factory in Aleppo (1753-71). While in Aleppo, Russell studied the outbreaks of plague in 1760-62, so may have been interested in the recipe (f. 1r) for pills (حبوب), five of which were to be taken in the morning, before breakfast, during plague season (في أيام الوباء). This recipe is said to have been received from Ibn al-Ḥākhām ('son of the Rabbi') Mūsá on 7 Rajab 1138/11 March 1726 (see Custodial History).Contents:(1) al-‘Aynzarbī (العينزربي), al-Kāfī fī ṣinā‘at al-ṭibb(الكافي في صناعة الطب; ff. 2r-172v);(2) al-Qawṣūnī (القوصوني), Zād al-masīr fī ʿilāj al-bawāsīr(زاد المسير في علاج البواسير; ff. 173r-185r).Codex; ff. iii+185+ivMaterial: Western laid paper, with Tre lunewatermarkDimensions: 209 x 150 mm leaf [140 x 95 mm written]Foliation: Eastern Arabic foliation in black ink, British Museum foliation in pencilRuling: Misṭarah; 23 lines per page; vertical spacing 16 lines per 10 cmScript: NaskhInk: Black ink, with rubricated headings and overlinings in redBinding: Red leather binding, with stamped medallion, pendants corner and edge pieces; marbled doublures and recto-side of first front and end flyleavesCondition: Minor water damage to lower, outer corner towards front and end of volumeMarginalia: Few; most (all?) by hand of scribeSeals: None
- Language:
- Arabic
- Type:
- Manuscript
- Type (Narrower):
- Manuscripts
- Type (Broader):
- Text
- Subject:
- Medicine--Early works to 1800
- Extent:
- Codex; ff. iii+185+iv
- Rights:
- Public Domain
- Identifier:
- 81055/vdc_100032176486.0x000001_ar
81055/vdc_100032176486.0x000001_en
Add MS 5931 - Is part of:
- British Library: Oriental Manuscripts