McGill University's Osler Library of the History of Medicine houses the "Herbal of al-Ghafiqi" - one of the most remarkable medieval Arabic manuscripts on simple drugs. The lavishly illustrated unicum - that is, the only known copy of this work - was composed by the celebrated 12th-century Andalusian physician and scholar Abu Ja'far al-Ghafiqi (d.1165), considered by many as the greatest savant of medicinal plants, whose work had no equal in his field.
On Aug. 19-20, McGill's Institute of Islamic Studies and The Osler Library was officially launched.
The Ghafiqi Project hosted a workshop for an interdisciplinary team of international scholars to study the manuscript for the first time. The Project aims to spur subsequent research, culminating in the eventual publication of a three-volume work including a facsimile of the manuscript, translation and scholarly commentary.
Two varieties of Kabikaj, known in Greek as Batrakhion and in Latin as Ranunculus, i.e. ‘little frog’
Credit: Ghafiqi Project
"We are thrilled at the response that we have received from international experts in the fields of language, art and science," said Pamela Miller, History of Medicine Librarian at the Osler Library. "In particular, this manuscript is a tangible witness of the transmission of knowledge across cultures and highlights the central role played by pharmacology down through the ages."
Sources and contacts:
Allison Flynn, Media RelationsMcGill University News release
Date, Anand. The Story of Osler's First Four Arabic Manuscript AcquisitionsThe Osler Library Newsletter. Number 106, 2006.
No. 106 (2006) [.pdf]
Gacek, Adam. Arabic Calligraphy and the "Herbal" of al-Ghâfiqî: A Survey of Arabic Manuscripts at McGill University. Fontanus no. 2 1989:37-50.
Gacek, Adam. Drugs for bodies...and books in 75 Books From the Osler Library. editors: Faith Wallis and Pamela Miller. Montreal, 2004: 76-77
Drugs for bodies...and books [.pdf]
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