medica. Among his discoveries is that of the contagiousness of
pulmonary tuberculosis. His works for several centuries continued
to be looked upon as the highest standard by physicians, and he
should undoubtedly be credited with having at least retarded the
decline of mediaeval medicine.

But it was not the Eastern Arabs alone who were active in the
field of medicine. Cordova, the capital of the western caliphate,
became also a great centre of learning and produced several great
physicians. One of these, Albucasis (died in 1013 A.D.), is
credited with having published the first illustrated work on
surgery, this book being remarkable in still another way, in that
it was also the first book, since classical times, written from
the practical experience of the physician, and not a mere
compilation of ancient authors. A century after Albucasis came
the great physician Avenzoar (1113-1196), with whom he divides
about equally the medical honors of the western caliphate. Among
Avenzoar's discoveries was that of the cause of "itch"--a little
parasite, "so small that he is hardly visible." The discovery of
the cause of this common disease seems of minor importance now,
but it is of interest in medical history because, had Avenzoar's
discovery been remembered a hundred years ago, "itch struck in"
could hardly have been considered the cause of three-fourths of
all diseases, as it was by the famous Hahnemann.

The illustrious pupil of Avenzoar, Averrhoes, who died in 1198
A.D., was the last of the great Arabian physicians who, by
rational conception of medicine, attempted to stem the flood of
superstition that was overwhelming medicine. For a time he
succeeded; but at last the Moslem theologians prevailed, and he