Arabic MS 301 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)
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Arabic Manuscripts
Contents
Summary of Contents: Second volume of Avicenna's (aka Ibn Sīna) the Canon of Medicine. It contains the Second Book/Kitāb. It was copied in India in 1862 CE (1279 AH).Language(s): Arabic
Title: Kitāb al-Qānūn al-ṭibbTitle: كتاب القانون في الطبAuthor: Avicenna, 980-1037 (ابن سينا، الحسين بن عبد الله)Language(s): ArabicIt contains the Second Book/Kitāb of the Canon, embracing the part entitled Medicinal Simples (الادوة المفودة). It is divided into two maqālahs; the first maqalāh is subdivided into six faṣls, and the second into sixteen lauḥs.
The real subject of the book, that is, Medicinal Simples begins on folio 24b.
The order of these remedies is alphabetical from alif to ghayin inclusive, the first article being 'al-khalil al-maliki'(الكليل الملك) and the last (غالية). The text appears to be incomplete at the end. The final medicament is غالية. Editions include غالمون as the last medicament.
For Book 1, see Arabic MS 300; Book 3, see Arabic MS 302; Books 4 and 5, see Arabic MS 303.
Colophon on folio 234b gives the date and place of production: 29 Shawwāl 1279 AH (ca. 23 April 1862 CE) in the Caliphate palace of Shahjahanabad aka the Red Fort(Old Delhi, Delhi, India). The Hijri date (١٢٧٩) is written above the word تسع ("nine") in Eastern Arabic numerals. Copyist name omitted.
No corrections.
Colophon: Folio 234b: تم تسطير الكتاب في دار الخلافة شاهجهان أباد لتاسع وعشرين من شهر شوال سنة الف ومأتين وتسع ١٢٧٩ وسبعين من الهجرة النبوية على صاحبها الصلوة والسلام فقطIncipit: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم وبه نستعين وعليه التوكل وبعد حمد الله والثناء عليه بما هو اهله والصلاة على نبيه المصطفى محمد وآله فإن هذا الكتاب هو ثاني الكتب التي صنفناها في الطب التي الاول منها هو في الاحكام الكلية من الطب والثاني منها هو هذا الكتاب المجموع في الادوية قسمنا هذا الكتاب مقالتين الاولى منهما في القوانين الطبيعية التي يجب ان تعرف من امر الطب والثانية منهما في قوى الادوية المفردة الجزئيةExplicit: فهذا آخر الكلام من حرف الغين وهو من آخر الكلام من الكتاب واذا قد وفينا بما وعدنا لنشرع الآن في الكتاب الثالث ان شاء الله تعالىTitle: Book Two2a-21aTitle: First maqāla2a-4bTitle: First faṣl4b-6aTitle: Second faṣl6b-12bTitle: Third faṣl12b-17bTitle: Fourth faṣl17b-20aTitle: Fifth faṣl20a-21aTitle: Sixth faṣl21a-234bTitle: Second maqālaSecond maqāla is divided according to its Abjadīya/alphabetical order, with each entry divided into lawḥs or entires. Some drugs include all this information, others include only some.
The text appears to be incomplete at the end. The final medicament is غالية. Editions include غالمون as the last medicament.
No corrections.
- First lawḥ–names, definitions and essential characterstics
- Second lawḥ—most valuable contents
- Third lawḥ—drugs’ qualities and natures
- Fourth lawḥ—the drugs’ general effects and uses
- Fifth lawḥ—the drugs’ cosmetic uses
- Sixth lawḥ—drugs’ uses on swellings, blisters
- Seventh lawḥ—uses on ulcers, wounds and fractures
- Eighth lawḥ—uses on joint maladies and sinews
- Ninth lawḥ—uses for treating head maladies
- Tenth lawḥ—uses for treating eye diseases
- Eleventh lawḥ—uses for treating body parts for breathing
- Twelfth lawḥ—for treating complaints having to do with digestion
- Thirteenth lawḥ—for treating fits and shaking (*al-nafḍ*)
- Fourteenth lawḥ—for treating fevers
- Fifteenth lawḥ—on poisons
- Sixteenth lawḥ—on antitoxins
Physical Description
Form: codexSupport: Oriental Paper, no watermarks, regular chain lines.Extent: 234 folios (i+234+i)Dimensions (binding): 260 × 175 × 30 mm.Dimensions (leaf): 250 × 167 mm.Dimensions (written): 165 × 96 mm.Foliation: Modern foliation in Western Arabic characters in pencil.Collation
No signatures; catchword on every verso.Condition
Good condition.Layout
Uniform layout. Broad margins. Heavily rubricated in text and in margins for divisions of text and drug names. Remedies written twice: once in the middle of the lines in black overlined in red, and secondly on the margins in red.
Hand(s)
Neat Indian Naskhi script in black ink .
Decoration
Binding
Leather binding on cardboard. Western binding with marble paper pastedowns. Identical almond-shaped medallions with symmetrical floral patterns stamped into leather on front and back covers, with two flower-shaped pendants above and below the central medallion, gold outlines on front and back covers.
History
Origin: It was copied in 1279 AH (1862 CE) in ; Old Delhi, Delhi, India.Provenance and Acquisition
Previously in the collection of Colonel George William Hamilton (1807-1868) who served in India from 1823 to 1867, latterly as Commissioner of Delhi. He acquired over a thousand Indian and Persian manuscripts, from which the British Museum selected 352, now held in the British Library; his ownership inscription on flyleaf ia: جلد دويم (sic) قانون في الادوية المفردة كرميل جارج وليم هملتن صاحب بهادر .
Formerly in the collection of Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) Crawford, Alexander Crawford Lindsay, 1812-1880.
Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) Rylands, Enriqueta, 1843–1908 in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913) Crawford, James Ludovic Lindsay, Earl of, 1847–1913 .
Bequeathed by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) in 1908 to The John Rylands Library.
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