Abu Al Qasim Al Zahrawi (Albucasis): Pioneer of Modern Surgery

 In this article I have written about a famous Islamic scholar named Al Zahrawi who contributed a lot for the Modern Surgery.

Abu Qasim Khalaf Ibn Abbas Al Zahrawi, was born in Al - Zahra in 936 A.D. Zahra is located Six Miles Northwest to Cordoba, which is the Capital of Muslim Spain which was also called as Al-Andalus. His decents and Ancestors were from the Al Ansar tribes of Al Madina Al Munawwarah who came from the Arabian Peninsula with a great army which then they conquered and Lived in Great Spain. Abu Qassim travelled rarely, and he spent most of his life in his mothertown as a practicing physician. 

One of his well known service : Al - Zahrawi served as a Court PhPhysician to the Islamic Caliph Al- Hakam 2., This was the time period which was considered as the "Golden Age" of Spain when Natural and Mathematical Sciences reached their peak. He distinguished a long term Medical Career and served the Community.

Famous Book Written by Al- Zahrawi :   It is estimated around the year 1000 AD, He wrote a famous book " Al Tasreef Liman "Ajaz "Aan Al- Taleef". ( The Clearance of Medical Science For those who cannot Compile ). This was a summation of Fifty years of his Medical Education, Training, practises and Experience. This books three chapters were devoted to surgery. 

Here are some the Procedures and Techniques that can be studied in these three chapters : 

• He has fully described tonsillectomy and tracheostomy. 
• He has described how we can use a hook to remove a polyp from the nose.
• He has devised some important instruments for internal examination of the ear.
• Devised an instrument used to remove or insert objects into the throat.
• Removal of urinary bladder calculi. He has advised that the treating physician has to insert a finger into the rectum of the patient, move the stone down to the neck of the bladder, then make an incision in the rectal wall or the perineum and remove the stone.

   This Great Scholar died  in 1013 AD at the age of 77.