History of medicine: Ibn Zuhr

Also known as

• Ibn Zuhr
• ابن زهر
• Avenzoar

 

Life

• 1094 CE – 1162 CE
• Born in Al-Andalus (modern Spain)

Great works

• Kitab al-Taisir fi al-Mudawat wa al-Tadbir (Book to facilitate Therapeutics and Regimen)
• Kitab al-Iqtisad fi Islah Al-Anfus wa al-Ajsad (Book of the Golden Mean Regarding the Treatment of Souls and Bodies)
• Kitab al-Aghziya (Book on Foodstuffs)

 

Significance in history

• Pioneered the testing of therapeutics on animals before use on humans. 
• Wrote detailed descriptions of many diseases.
• Including the first detailed description of scabies.
• Wrote the first full description of a tracheotomy. 
• Practiced enteral tube feeding in patients with dysphagia.
• Gained a reputation as one of the greatest physicians since Galen and Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi.
• Wrote medical textbooks for the common people.