of the works of Hippocrates, and practised the art
along the lines indicated by his teachings and those of Galen. He is
considered the greatest translator of the ninth century and one of the
greatest philosophers of that period.

Another great Arabian physician, whose work was just beginning as
Honain's was drawing to a close, was Rhazes (850-923 A.D.), who during
his life was no less noted as a philosopher and musician than as a
physician. He continued the work of Honain, and advanced therapeutics by
introducing more extensive use of chemical remedies, such as mercurial
ointments, sulphuric acid, and aqua vitae. He is also credited with
being the first physician to describe small-pox and measles accurately.

While Rhazes was still alive another Arabian, Haly Abbas (died about
994), was writing his famous encyclopaedia of medicine, called The Royal
Book. But the names of all these great physicians have been considerably
obscured by the reputation of Avicenna (980-1037), the Arabian "Prince
of Physicians," the greatest name in Arabic medicine, and one of the
most remarkable men in history. Leclerc says that "he was perhaps
never surpassed by any man in brilliancy of intellect and indefatigable
activity." His career was a most varied one. He was at all times a
boisterous reveller, but whether flaunting gayly among the guests of
an emir or biding in some obscure apothecary cellar, his work of
philosophical writing was carried on steadily. When a friendly emir was
in power, he taught and wrote and caroused at court; but between times,
when some unfriendly ruler was supreme, he was hiding away obscurely,
still pouring out his great mass of manuscripts. In this way his entire
life was spent.

By his extensive writings he revived and kept alive the best of the
teachings of the Greek physicians, adding to them such observations
as he had made in anatomy, physiology, and materia medica. Among his
discoveries is that of the contagiousness of pulmonary tuberculosis. His
works for several centuries continued to be looked upon as the highest
standard by physicians, and he should undoubtedly be credited with
having at least retarded the decline of mediaeval medicine.

But it was not the Eastern Arabs alone who were active in the field of
medicine. Cordova, the capital of the western caliphate, became also a
great centre of learning and produced several great physicians. One of
these, Albucasis (died in 1013 A.D.), is credited with