Exchange on Eye Diseases

12th Century

About This Entry

This Judeo-Arabic exchange between two physicians, Abū Zikrī and his senior colleague Abū ‘Alī, concerns afflictions of the eye, the most common medical problem found in the Cairo Geniza documents. The first side of the page details Abū Zikrī’s question, while the back contains his colleague’s response. Treatment of eye disease had a long history by the twelfth century, when this document was written, and many of the ophthalmological remedies that the two doctors discussed have roots in older medical practice. Indeed, it has been remarked that only pharmacology and ophthalmology can truly be labeled specialties within the traditions of medieval medicine. These texts begin with praise, turn to a description of the symptoms of the disease in question, and suggest treatments. Ellipses indicate lacunae in the manuscript.

With the help of God, His servant Abu Z[ikri]. The servant of His Excellency, My Lord, the illustrious Sheikh Abu Ali kisses the earth in front of you. And I inform His Honour how much I miss him and am looking forward to meeting him and thanking his glory with . . . . And his grace spreads over me [?]‌ in all seasons [?] and every hour [?] and more, please send me an answer soon as your good habits and generosity [permit?], of what happened to me—two diseases, one of which is trachoma in the centre of the cornea of the third kind, as a white marble with a severe yellow inflammation, and redness secreted from the eye. And I already drained it after a few days of bloodletting with a pill of sweet violet to no avail. I apologize before you. And, likewise, serious eye inflammation. Regarding the eye—it has already started to form a crust and is infected with eczema in the eye, of the fourth kind. Likewise, a cut similar to that of the man to whom you prescribed a remedy, and already it [?] strikes him for the third time. And please inform me soon about something I can trust upon, concerning these three cases, without delay. Please be kind and send me a quarter ounce of black-lead collyrium from your stock [?] for all the collyrium your father keeps sending me is not beneficial.

And I will be comforted one day. And everything that you need from your servant please honour me with it. Receive for your noble self the best greetings. And to your mother and Abu al-Ḥasan most profuse greetings. And don’t delay your answer for I am looking forward to receiving your grace.

May I never be deprived of you and never miss you!

The elder Abu Zikri, may God prolong your life. Hearing is not like seeing.

I hereby inform you, Sheikh Abu Zikri, how much I miss you. And regarding what [you have mentioned] about the eye diseases, which you have described in detail, and these issues are very . . . . And I’ve already showed you how I have managed to overcome such diseases . . . his sufferings, and that these diseases are b[ad] and it was said disease . . . and the person who treated these d[iseases] . . . and the inquiry for the reason . . . and I shall follow this rule but if . . . he is the one who has the wound together with a complex eye sickness that is [?]‌ yellow and the one who mentioned . . . and the benefit . . . the rest of the d[iseases]. And smear a paste/drip drops . . . thin, . . . during the rubbing until the eye [becomes] burned up with fever. Then you shall add a bit from the white. And when the fever will calm down and the eye inflammation will disappear then you should scrape with it two portions of frankincense and two drg,¹ and you shall not use too much from it until you clean the wound. Powder it and later spread washed hypocist until it forms a crest. Then you shall stick resin of Acacia tree on the eyelids. And do not exceed three ounces of sweet violet and white water lily, or cherry drink—three ounces early in the morning and three ounces in the evening before going to sleep. In general, it will be good if you could bring him to me one day and I shall see him. And you should prevent him from sleeping during the day. With health [wishes].

And regarding the second [complaint]—the hot eye inflammation and the eczema. First, you shall use eye disease remedies according to what is suitable to the type of eye inflammation—the complex or the simple. And don’t exaggerate spreading paste on the eczema—that is, don’t use too much ban tree, white lily, and white alum, and whatever increases the pus and the eczema. Regarding the cut, the lead [should be burned] together with the ban and the camphor as you see fit, and be as gentle as you can. Drink is suitable for this condition, as you can see, and the smelling of myrtle and pond lily and dates. And if the effect [to the treatment] will be absent then [it should be] enriched and chewed with almonds and a drink of sweet violet . . . as is suitable if you will inform me if the effect [of the treatment] will be absent from it or if they suffer from headache or not. And I shall not require you for this.

Sheikh Abu Zikri, may God prolong your life, and there is no assistant but God.

Source: CUL T-S 10J16.16.

Translated by Amir Ashur and Efraim Lev.

We’re sorry. The Posen Library’s licensing agreements prevent this text from being printed or downloaded.

Notes

Words in brackets appear in the original translation.

The reading and translation is unclear. [ . . . ]

Credits

Abū Zikrī and Abū ‘Alī, Exchange on Eye Diseases, trans. Amir Ashur and Efraim Lev, in Amir Ashur and Efraim Lev, “New Genizah Documents: Three Fragments on Practical Medicine in Medieval Egypt” (Hebrew), Ginzei Qedem, vol. 9 (2013): 9–35 (22–25). With the gracious permission of Dr. Albert D. and Mrs. Nancy Friedberg, The Friedberg Jewish Manuscript Society (FJMS) and The Friedberg Genizah Project (FGP).

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.