Medicine and Health (continued)
Part VI: Pharmacies and Medicine
This image is from The Rise of Islam by Moktefi, illustrated by Sedat Tosun, Silver Burdett Publishers, 1985, page 52. Out of print.
In pharmacy laboratories, druggists prepared medicines according to directions found in the Treatise on Medicinal Drugs by Biruni (Abu Raihan Muhammad al-Biruni - 973 - 1048 C.E.). Biruni was a contemporary of (lived at the same time as) the famous doctor Ibn Sina and they corresponded (sent letters to each other).
As the Islamic Empire expanded, medical specialists came into contact with drugs unknown to earlier peoples. In later Arabic works, medicines were used that came from as far away as China, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. The Muslim scientists also had access to (could get a copy of) the knowledge of the Greeks which they translated into Arabic.
The largest and most popular of medical books was that by Ibn al-Baytar, the most famous botanist (someone who studies plants) from Andalusia (Muslim Spain). His book Collection of Simple Drugs and Food is an alphabetically arranged list and description of over 1400 medicinal plants which he spent a lifetime gathering. In each article, he gives information about how to prepare the drug, its purpose, and dose (how much to take). Ibn al-Baytar got many of his early ideas from Birundi and Ibn Sina. Ibn al-Baytar died in 1248.
Pharmacist preparing drugs From Dioscorides Materia Medica, 13th century -
In conclusion, the Muslims made great advancements in the field of pharmacology (the study of drugs and medicines). They experimented with various herbs and other drugs, and anesthetics (pain killers) used in India. The Arabs established the first drugstores and wrote the first encyclopedias of drugs and medicines. Baghdad had at one time as many as eight hundred sixty-two registered pharmacists, all of whom had passed formal examinations.
Biruni 
Pharmacy equipment from
Arabic texts.Learn more about it:
- For Islamic contributions to pharmacy/medicines, see "Islamic Culture and the Medicinal Arts: Pharmaceutics and Alchemy" [Note: The word "alchemy" comes from the Arabic word al-kimiya, and is considered the beginnings of chemistry.] Also see images
- See a biography of "Jabir Ibn Haiyan (Geber), Died 803 C.E." [father of modern chemistry]
- Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 981-1037) on Testing New Medicine [procedures for experimentation/testing]
Part VII: Public Health Inspectors (Muhtasib)
[This is a summary and simplification of "The Muhtasib" by Caroline Stone in ARAMCO World Magazine, Sept.-Oct., 1977.]
The Muhtasib was an Inspector of Public Services. Some of his responsibilities might include seeing that correct weights and measures were used by merchants (so no one would be cheated), insisting upon proper street cleaning, seeing that a dangerous building was condemned, ensuring a supply of clean water, and other related matters. A number of books were written as guides to help an inspector perform his duties.
The Health Inspector had the power to make regular inspections on all the shops in the city at any hour, night or day. He could arrest offenders. He also fought to keep the streets clear and regulated (made it work according to laws) dumping of garbage. Muslim science recognized the importance of clean food and drink in the prevention of disease. Therefore, there were strict rules and the Muhtasib enforced them. All slaughtering of animals was to be carried out in public slaughterhouses. The sale of the meat from sick animals was forbidden. At the end of the day, butchers and fish sellers were supposed to clean up their area and dispose of bad or unpreserved meat scraps beyond the city limits.
The Muhtasib also inspected public eating houses. All pots of food had to be kept covered against flies and insects. If a man was repeatedly charged with a serious offense against the community, such as selling diseased meat, the Muhtasib was empowered to have him executed.
The importance of milk and water as sources of communicable diseases was also recognized in the Arab World. The best water was from wells, with less good water coming from the river. Water was sold around the city of Baghdad in large jars that had to be kept covered. Water was sold to travelers using little jars, and it was strictly forbidden to drink from the main jar or to dip one's hand into it. All the jars had to be scrubbed daily with boiling water and dried.
The public baths were also inspected by the Muhtasib. The water had to be clean and fresh and the floors well scrubbed. People with skin diseases or leprosy were excluded.
Milk sales were regulated very strictly. All dairies had to be whitewashed (painted white) and paved. There were many tests of the milk's quality.
Muhtasib also checked on doctors, surgeons, blood-letters, and pharmacists. In 931 the Caliph ordered that all doctors were licensed. Unlicensed persons were not allowed to practice medicine.
The Muhtasib also checked doctors' equipment and gave the Hippocratic Oath (an oath doctors took promising to do their best to cure their patients, first started by Hippocrates, the famous Greek doctor). The druggist, too, was inspected, and if he charged a patient a lot of money for cheap drugs he could be severely punished.
From ARAMCO World Magazine, Sept. - Oct., 1977 ("The Muhtasib" by Caroline Stone, illustrated by Penny Williams.)