This volume delves into the life and groundbreaking work of Abu 'l-Qasim al-Zahrawi, known in the West as Albucasis, the preeminent Arab surgeon whose innovations shaped the field of surgery. The book explores the little-known details of al-Zahrawi's background, tracing his roots to the royal city of al-Zahra' near Cordova, and discusses his monumental surgical treatise, Kitab al-Tasrif, which revolutionized medical practice in both the Islamic and European worlds. The Surgery, the final section of this vast compendium, offers a comprehensive and illustrated guide to surgical procedures, tools, and techniques, many of which were entirely new to the medical community and continue to influence modern medicine. Translated into Latin in the twelfth century, Albucasis' work swiftly became a cornerstone in European medical education, with figures like Guy de Chauliac and Fabricius ab Aquapendente ranking him alongside Hippocrates and Galen. This book sheds light on his surgical contributions, including his innovations such as the tonsil guillotine, vaginal speculum, and plaster cast for fractures. With a detailed commentary on the surviving manuscripts and translations, this volume serves as an essential resource for scholars of medieval medicine, surgery, and the rich legacy of Islamic contributions to the Western medical tradition.

This title was originally published in 1972.

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