Letter: T-S 10J16.16

Description

Recto: Letter from a physician named Abu Zikri to a senior colleague, Abu 'Ali. Abu Zikri writes, apparently from the Rīf, seeking advice on the management of three patients. The first patient has a corneal ulcer ("of the third type"), marble-like leucoma, and acute ophthalmia that is bloody and yellow-bilious. Abu Zikri has tried bloodletting and draining the ulcer with a pastille of sweet violet to no avail. The second patient has very acute ophthalmia, lachrymation, and an inveterate scaly eruption in the eye ("of the fourth type"). The third patient has an unspecified perforation "like that of the patient whom you were treating." Abu Zikri also requests that Abu 'Ali send him a black-lead ophthalmic from his own stock, since all the ophthalmics Abu 'Ali's father had sent were ineffective. He invites Abu 'Ali to spend time with him outside of the capital and sends regards to the recipient's mother, father, and Abu l-Ḥasan. On verso: Abu 'Ali responds to Abu Zikri's questions, writing in the spaces around three lines of large chancery-script Arabic. The upper part of the page is damaged. Abu 'Ali states that these are very serious conditions. Regarding the first patient, Abu 'Ali recommends the use of the "white" (ophthalmic), gradual and careful application of frankincense to clean the ulcer, followed by application of a powder from washed "shanj" (Cytinus hypocistis according to Efraim Lev, citing Issa Bey), and then administration of three ounces, morning and evening, of a potion of sweet violet and water lily or a potion of cherry. The patient must refrain from sleeping in the daytime. Abu 'Ali recommends that Abu Zikri bring him the patient so that he can examine him himself. Regarding the second patient, Abu 'Ali says that the remedy varies according to whether the ophthalmia is simple or complex. Abu Zikri must not neglect the scaly eruption, in that the use of too much ben tree or water lily or white alum can exacerbate it. Regarding the third patient, Abu 'Ali suggests the use of the black-lead ophthalmic, burnt, together with ben tree and camphor or whatever else Abu Zikri sees fit to use. Abu 'Ali recommends lightening the diet as much as possible. He alludes to a potion that Abu Zikri is already familiar with, and suggests that the patient may benefit from smelling myrtle, water lily, or dates. If the condition is refractory, Abu Zikri may give almonds or a potion of sweet violet. Finally, he requests to be informed whether these remedies work, and whether the patients have headaches or not. Information from: Ashur and Lev, "Three Fragments on Practical Medicine in Medieval Egypt." Goitein, Med Soc V, 95 and 532. Goitein's index cards. Alan Elbaum 11/2019. Technical terminology follows Oliver Kahl, The Dispensatory of Ibn al-Tilmīdh, Brill: Boston, 2007.