The Canon of Medicine (Arabic: القانون في الطب al-Qānūn fī al-Ṭibb) is an encyclopedia of medicine in five books compiled by Persian philosopher Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) and completed in 1025. It presents a clear and organized summary of all the medical knowledge of the time. It is a "magisterial exposition of Galenic medicine", although while Avicenna accepted Galen's evidence on anatomical matters he preferred Aristotle's theories where they differed from Galen. The word Canon in the title derives from the cognate Arabic original Qanun (the English word "canon" comes from Latin canōn, from Ancient Greek κανών (kanón, "measuring rod, standard"), while the Arabic word qanun comes directly from the same Ancient Greek root). The Canon of Medicine remained a medical authority for centuries. It set the standards for medicine in Medieval Europe and the Islamic world, and is Avicenna's most renowned written work. Qanun was used at many medical schools. It is used in Unani (Ionian) medicine, a form of traditional medicine practiced in India.
THE CANON OF MEDICINE OF AVICENNA AMS PRESS NEW YORK ReP,o,lce,l
in- /.c-i-;i.,.ss.Ji of the Trusts of the Unt.sh .11.*-. A
physician and his patient. From an early .Persian MS. (Add. 27.261.
f. 371b) " \ "Teat sage a reader of ancient books, Greek, Persian,
Latin, Arabian, and Svriac ; and skilled in medicine and astronomv,
both with respect to their scientific principles and the rules of
their practical applications ; he was experienced in all that
bealeth and hurteth the bodv ; conversant with the virtues of every
plant, dried and fresh, the baneful and the useful. He was versed
in the wisdom of the philosophers, and had compassed the whole
range of medical science and other branches of the knowledge-tree.
Uth Xiglil 'Hiirton; Lane.) Library of Congress Cataloging in
Publication Data Avicenna, 980-1037- A treatise on the Canon of
medicine of Avicenna. Original work has title: al-Qanun fi al-tibb.
Bibliography: p. 1. Medicine, Arabic. I. Grmier, Oskar Cameron, tr,
II. Title.' [DEEM: WZ290 A957q bk. 1 ^W^ E128.3-A9732 1973 610
73-12409 ISBN: 0-404-11231-5 U 7 -d- .J i.J H\/ Reprinted from the
edition of 1930, London First AMS edition published in 1973
Manfuactured in the United States of America AMS PRESS INC. NEW
YORK, N. Y. 10003 PREFACE The purpose of the present treatise is
two-fold : (i) To furnish a translation of the First Book of the
Canon of Medicine of Avicenna. The section on Anatomy has been
omitted in favour of the first half of the Be viribus cordis. This
assists in the second object of this treatise. Dis- tinctively
large type is used for the translation. (2) To present a study of
its mystical philosophy {tas- sawuf), especially showing where this
and modern biological knowledge are reciprocally illuminative. The
words of the late Prof. E. G. Browne may be quoted here : " Even if
we rate the originality of Arabian medicine at the lowest, I
venture to think that it will deserve more careful and systematic
study." Furthermore, the Thomistic philosophy of human nature is
specially discussed, and its applicability to the Medicine of the
future is definitely enunciated. A grateful acknowledgment is made
to the School of Oriental Studies, London Institution (University
of London) for_ signal help in the acquisition of the Arabic,
Persian, and Chinese essential to the purposes of the treatise. O.
Cameron Gruner. London, Becember, 1929. v CONTENTS A. The Treatise
page Preliminary Thesis: The Canon of Medicine in relation to
modern thought - - - - - ",".." " * I. The intellectual culture
contemporary with Avicenna (a) In the central Saracen empire, (b)
In the western Saracen empire, (c) Among the Chinese. II. The
knowledge presented by the Canon, as compared with that of to-day (
7- 1 8 ) " " " " " ,; 5 (a) The Canon is a precis, (b) The word
Canon. (V) The word " knowledge." (d) Mystical insight. III. The
basic difference between the Canon and Modern Medicine ( 19-22)
-----""" 8 IV. Special differences between the Canon and Modern
Medicine ( 23-37) -------- 1 (a) Conceptions .known to Avicenna ;
not now recognised, (b) Conceptions known to modern medicine, but
not to Avicenna. (c) Know- ledge common to Avicenna and modern
medicine. V Of interest to the Scholar ( 38) - - - - \ VI. Brief
survey of the Intention of this treatise ($ 40-44) 19 The doctrine
of Matter and Form ( 55-108) 39 Death and Destiny ( 11 1-1 1 5)
------- I 2 The Humours ( 116, 117) " " " ' " " " " ?, The basis of
Anatomy in the Canon Q 1 18-127) - - - 03 The doctrine of the
Breath ( 136-150) ------ 12., Scholastic psychology ( 155-165) - -
I39.H3 Coloured Plate representing the corporeal and psychical
Faculties facing p. 143 The Bath-house ( 198, 199) ' : " ~ " " " "
Ifc Expiative causes of Disease ( 201) - - - - " ' P Chinese
sphygmology ( 208-224, 234, 235)- - - - ' 20 J> Table of
Terminology relative to the Pulse (Latin, Arabic, Chinese) facing
p. 289 The doctrine of the pulse ( 218-220, 225-230, 231-233) -
293-308 Urinalysis, ancient versus modern ( 238-239) - - - 349
Dietetics ( 195, 248-253) ------ ' 219 ' 4 \ 4 Ornamental Plate,
with special portraits - /
