Biography
Al Zahrawi (Albucasis in the West) lived between 936 and 1013 in Andalusia. He is considered to be among the pioneers of medical surgery in medieval age. His inventions in medical field are still utilised in modern surgery. Abucasis was born in Cordoba (Andalusia) in 936.
He is believed to have originated from Al Ansar, a Medinian tribe. He was a Sunni Muslim who devoted his life towards improving surgical instruments and procedures. Until his death in 1013, Al Zahrawi spent his life in Cordoba where most of his influential works were achieved (Abū Al-Qāsim, 1973, p. 8).
Career
Al Zahrawi’s career was dedicated wholly to medicine and surgery. He came up with new techniques of performing surgeries. Additionally, he invented instruments that would later be used in performing surgery. In essence, he committed himself to studying, teaching and practising surgery and medicine.
He was a court physician in Andalusia. He devoted his life to the advancement of surgery as well as medicine. He attended to the caliph of Andalusia (Al Hakam II). His most celebrated work was the Kitab al Tasrif, which contained various topics in medicine (Holmes-Walker, 2004, p.176).
Contribution to Science and Civilisation
Al Zahrawi made several contributions to the world of medicine. He invented numerous devices used in surgery. These devices ranged from those utilised to remove foreign bodies from the ear to those utilised to remove foreign bodies from the throat. Additionally, he specialised in cauterisation.
Al Zahrawi is also believed to be the pioneer of ectopic pregnancy in a period of great fatality. Moreover, he was the first physician to draw hooks with two tips for utilisation in surgery. He also came up with different cannulae, among other inventions, especially in surgery (Missori, Brunetto & Domenicucci, 2012, p. 928–934 ).
References
Abū Al-Qāsim, K. (1973). Albucasis on Surgery and Instruments. Berkeley: University of California Press. Print.
Holmes-Walker, A. (2004). Life-enhancing plastics : plastics and other materials in medical applications. London: Imperial College Press. Print.
Missori, P., Brunetto, M., & Domenicucci, M. ( 2012). Origin of the Cannula for Tracheotomy During the Middle Ages and Renaissance. World Journal of Surgery, 36(4), 928-934.