Author: M Al Fallouji Abstract of Lecture delivered at: Britist Society for History of Medicine, Dundee 2007
Arabic influence on English Medical terms came through many routes, namely:
1. Translation of Greek books into Arabic;
2. Reversed translation of Arabic books into Latin during Renaissance period;
3. Islamic presence in Europe;
4. Crusaders/European presence in the Levant;
5. Trade and Commerce;
6. British empire and Muslim colonies.
All such routes provided mediums for linguistic cross-fertilisation. Despite Humanists’ efforts to purify the language of Science by casting out Arabic terms (Biology is exclusively Greek and Latin), many Arabic terms survived.
Arabs left indelible imprints in Anatomy e.g. nucha, saphinous, cephalic and basilic veins, cornea, ass, abdomen, pupil, and eye.
In chemistry and pharmacology there are drug, camphor, myrrh, senna, soap, alcohol, alkali (symbol K stands for Potassium derived from kalium), natron salts (symbol Na stands for Sodium derived from Natrium), sherbet, borax, elixir, odour, talc, syrups, juleps, lozenge. Arabic numerals facilitated drug dosage.
In Medicine and Surgery, Arabs manufactured many instruments e.g. catgut, cautery, catheter, gauze, and Leather bulb syringe used for rectal enema. Proctoclysis was invented by Avenzoar for preoperative feeding of soup and yougart infused via rectum with the aid of enema (Zarraq); gypsum (Gyps, a powder hardened by water was first used by Arabs in fractures, splints were made of pomegrenades wood; snares; tracheostomy (first mentioned by Rhazes, performed by Avenzoar on goats and executed by Albucasis on his maid); oesophageal intubation with silver tubes used by Avenzoar; Albucasis’ obstetric forceps (before Chamberlain’s).
In Nutrition, there are plethora of Arabic names such as dates, banana, apricot, lemon, orange, henna, coffee, sugar, candy, amber, saffron and cotton.
References
1. Al-Fallouji: History of Surgery of the Abdominal Cavity: Arabic Contributions.International Surgery Sept 1993;78:3:236-8.
2. Al-Fallouji: Arabic Caesarian Section: Islamic History and current practice. Scottish Medical Journal February 1993; 38:3-4
3. Al-Fallouji: Arabs were skilled in anesthesia. British Medical Journal April 1997; 314:1128
