THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ARABS IN THE HISTORY OF DERMATOLOGY

In this paper the author attempts to evaluate ancient clinical observations of distinguished authors in the field of dermatology. These authors described fully many diseases, sometimes exactly as they are described today. For example a description of tinea capitis is found in Ali Ibn Rabban At-Tabari, Paradise of Wisdom, (Firdous al-Hikmah); descriptions of differential diagnosis, lepromatous leprosy, and tuberculoid leprosy are found in Ali Ibn Al-Abbas al-Majusi, The Perfect in Industry, (Kamel al-Sina'ah) (Al-Malaki); the treatment of alopecia areata, and a description of medina-worm or Dracunculus medinensis is given by Ar-Razi, Al Hawi; and a description of varicella is given by Ibn Sina, Al-Qanun. The following examples have also been found in manuscripts which have not yet been edited: a descriptive treatise on carbuncles in Ibn al-Ain Zurbi; and a description of sarcoptes scabiei, purpura, and pityriasis simplex in Ibn Zuhr, At-Taisir.