Collection of medical extracts and prescriptions

Content

This collection begins (ff. 129v-163v) with prescriptions similar in style and format to those of the Aqrābādhīn of Ibn al-Tilmīdh, and at least one is said to have been chosen by Ibn al-Tilmīdh (اختاره أمين الدولة; f. 151v, line 3). Next is a ‘selection from Galen’s Substitutions [مختار من أبدال جالينوس; f. 164r-165v]’, i.e. from the pseudo-Galenic treatise on substitute drugs known as De succedaneis liber (see Fichtner, Corpus Galenicum , p. 79, Item 133). This selection from pseudo-Galen is said to have been ‘copied from the great Amīn al-Dawlah’s [i.e. Ibn al-Tilmīdh’s] own handwriting [منقول من خطّ الأجلّ أمين الدولة; f. 164, line3]’. The collection ends with a discussion of substitute drugs by Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakarīyā’ al-Rāzī (ff. 165v-170r).

Begins (f. 129v, lines 2-6):

دهن القسط

يسقى فينفع من برد (؟) الأعضاء وخصوصًا

الكبد والمعدة ويفتح السدد ويشد

العصب ويقويه ويحسن اللون ويحفظ

الشعر

Ends (f. 170r, lines 5-8):

... بدل عصارة

طراثيث عصارة القرظ. بدل الشيبار مصطكا وصبر أو يقتع (؟) الصبر

بدل أقرصة الورد ماء الرازبانج والكرفس مع عسل مادي. بدل

جلنجين عسل مادي مع رازبانج

Colophon Section at the end of a manuscript text. (f. 170r, lines 9-11):

تم الكتاب بحمد الله وعونه وتوفيقه

وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد النبي وصحبه وأله وعترته

الطاهرين وسلم تسليمًا

Extent and format

ff. 129v-170r

It is part of

Aqrābādhīn madīnat al-salam إقراباذين مدينة السلم Ibn al-Tilmīdh, Hibat Allāh ibn Ṣā‘id ابن التلميذ، هبة الله بن صاعد and other pharmaceutical texts

356 images

Ref: Or 8293

Physical characteristics

Material: Paper

Dimensions: 200 x 146 mm leaf [141 x 91 mm written]

Foliation: British Museum foliation in pencil

Ruling: Misṭarah; 11 lines per page; vertical spacing 8 lines per 10 cm

Script: Very clear, well pointed and vocalised naskh; the scribe was ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ibn ‘Alī ibn ‘Alī ibn ‘Alī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Ḥalabī

Ink: Black ink, with rubricated headings

Decoration: Title page (f. 2a), title and author information in cloud bands in box with gold borders, on background of blue with foliate arabesque design partially shaded in red; below and to the left of this is a similar, but less ornate, box containing information relating to the scribe

Binding: Ottoman (?) binding in red leather with blind-tolled borders, medallion and pendants; no envelope flap

Condition: light waterstains, some foxing, and a notable amount bleed-through of black ink

Marginalia: Frequent marginalia by more than one hand

Seals: See ff. 1r, 2r, 3r, 170r

Written in

Arabic in Arabic script

Type

Manuscript item

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: Oriental Manuscripts

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Or 8293, ff 129v-170r

History of this record

Date(s)

625 (AH, Hijri qamari)

Context of creation

Baghdad (?)

Provenance

Folio 1r contains a number of annotations including owners’ inscriptions and stamps.

Immediate source of acquisition

Purchased from Abdul Majid Belshah, 8 November 1919

Related material

Select Bibliography

Study:

Fichtner, Gerhard,

(Berlin: Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2012), p. 79, Item 133

Subjects

Medicine, ArabMedicine, MedievalPharmacology

People & organisations

Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakarīyā RāzīGalenHibat Allāh ibn Ṣā‘id Ibn al-Tilmīdh

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Cite this record in your research

Collection of medical extracts and prescriptions, British Library: Oriental Manuscripts, Or 8293, ff 129v-170r, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023483503.0x000002> [accessed 18 June 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023483503.0x000002

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