Qusta Ibn Luqa's Medical Regime for the Pilgrims to Mecca: The Risala Fi Tadbir Safar Al-Hajj (Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science) [Hardcover]

Gerrit Bos (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9004095411 | ISBN-13: 978-9004095410 | Publication Date: August 1997

This work by Qusta Ibn Luqa, the only known health guide for the pilgrims to Mecca, discusses the best regime for the travellers, the diseases which may befall them and their treatment. It demonstrates the author's knowledge of the works of ancient physicians, especially those of the Byzantine physician Paul of Aegina. Qusta covers such diseases as fatigue, earache, diseases of the bronchial tubes and those caused by dust. Recommended remedies are simple and compound drugs, bathing and massage. He then discusses criteria to determine the quality of water, means to improve bad water, and means to quench one's thirst. Qusta also treats the prophylaxis against vermin and the treatment of stings and bites caused by them. After an exposition of spontaneous generation, he concludes his treatise by discussing the occurrence of the Dracunculus medinensis and its treatment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'"There is a wealth of interesting and important material, including much on materia medica, buried in the extensive commentary accompanying this careful and well-written translation.'
Emilie Savage-Smith, "Bull. Hist. Med., 1993.
'..".pourvu d'un apparat critique abondant et soigni. La traduction anglaise est fidhle; de plus de longues notes facilitent la comprihension de passages souvent techniques.'
C. Gilliot, "Bulletin d'Islamologie et d'Itudes Arabes, 1993.
'..".an excellent edition, translation and detailes commentary...'
Andrew J. Newman, "Medical History, 1993.
'"Il faut filiciter G. Bos d'avoir donni cette bonne idition du premier guide sanitaire pour les voyageurs, composi, en arabe, par l'un des plus grands savants du IXe sihcle.'
Girard Troupeau, "Bulletin Critique des Annales Islamologiques, 1994.
'..".a most valuable and commendable addition to our knowledge of medicine in the early medieval Near East, with relevance and importance to areas far beyond its immediate subject.'
Lawrence I. Conrad "Bulletin School of Oriental & African Studies, 1995.

Language Notes

Text: English, Arabic (translation)
Original Language: Arabic

Product Details

• Hardcover: 186 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004095411
• ISBN-13: 978-9004095410
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,315,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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