Rhazes a versatile genius of Greco-Arab medicine

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakaria al-Razi (841-930), popularly known as Rhazes, was an epoch-making personality. The Greco-Arab medicine. is rightly proud of him. He shines on the horizon of Tibbe-Unani like the sun in the heavenly bodies. Rhazes flourished towards the end of 9th centilry A.D. He appears as the stalwart of Greco-Arab system like Hippocrates, Galen, Dibscorides and al-Tabari etc. His contributions in different disciplines including medical sciences are marvellous, such as philosophy, physics, mathematics, cosmology and medicine etc. In medicine, he left a number of valuable treatises, tracts and voluminous books to be ranked as encyclopedic. Rhazes looks very distinct and prominent amongst his contemporaries owing to his versatile contribution and writings consisting of translations, compilations and innovative original works. This talented philosopher, physician of Greco-Arab system put forth many theories and hypothesis regarding etiology, pathology, epidemiology, surgery and specially clinical medicine. Many of his hypotheses have now been proved and vindicated on scientific grounds by scholars of modern times. The knowledge of various Unani subjects were strengthened by his thoughts and theories. He excelled others in discovering certain anatomical structures and physiological functions of the body. He postulated congenital contagion, described air, water and soil as the source of spread of diseases. He suggested the fermentation theory. He not only distinguished as separate diseases but mentioned in detail the epidemiology, preventions, management and treatment of small pox and measles and even penned a special tract namely Kitab al jadari wal-hasba. Counting about 200 valuable writings of Rhazes, the masterpiece on concerned topics/subjects albeit his magnum opus are Kitabul Hawi and Kitabul Mansoori. These two voluminous books consist of 24 and 10 vols. each, respectively, and encompass the whole curriculum of Unani System of Medicine, e.g., Basic Principles, Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Medicine, Pharmacology etc. Sarton has rightly admired that al-Razi was perhaps the greatest clinician of all times. Ibn Abi Usaibia expressed likewise comments in recognition of al-Razi's contribution that he holds the same place among the Arab physicians as Galen (131-200 A.D.) amongst the Greeks.