ulphur in its various compounds have peculiar interest.
In particular is this true of his observation that, tinder certain
conditions of oxidation, the weight of a metal was lessened.

From the record of these studies in the fields of astronomy, physics,
and chemistry, we turn to a somewhat extended survey of the Arabian
advances in the field of medicine.

ARABIAN MEDICINE

The influence of Arabian physicians rested chiefly upon their use
of drugs rather than upon anatomical knowledge. Like the mediaeval
Christians, they looked with horror on dissection of the human body;
yet there were always among them investigators who turned constantly
to nature herself for hidden truths, and were ready to uphold the
superiority of actual observation to mere reading. Thus the physician
Abd el-Letif, while in Egypt, made careful studies of a mound of bones
containing more than twenty thousand skeletons. While examining these
bones he discovered that the lower jaw consists of a single bone, not
of two, as had been taught by Galen. He also discovered several other
important mistakes in Galenic anatomy, and was so impressed with his
discoveries that he contemplated writing a work on anatomy which should
correct the great classical authority's mistakes.

It was the Arabs who invented the apothecary, and their pharmacopoeia,
issued from the hospital at Gondisapor, and elaborated from time to
time, formed the basis for Western pharmacopoeias. Just how many drugs
originated with them, and how many were borrowed from the Hindoos, Jews,
Syrians, and Persians, cannot be determined. It is certain, however,
that through them various new and useful drugs, such as senna, aconite,
rhubarb, camphor, and mercury, were handed down through the Middle Ages,
and that they are responsible for the introduction of alcohol in the
field of therapeutics.

In mediaeval Europe, Arabian science came to be regarded with
superstitious awe, and the works of certain Arabian physicians were
exalted to a position above all the ancient writers. In modern times,
however, there has been a reaction and a tendency to depreciation of
their work. By some they are held to be mere copyists or translators
of Greek books, and in no sense original investigators in medicine. Yet
there can be little doubt that while the Arabians did copy and
translate freely, they also originated and added considerably to medical
knowledge. It is certain that in the time when Christian monarc