Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Procedure of Manuscript Study in Post Graduate Education of Unani
Medicine: A Reappraisal
Ashfaq AHMAD & Ala NARAYANA
into other languages throws considerable light on the
chronology of the original as well as on the text. 7 Various
copies of a manuscript should be compared and collated
to find the right word in case of torn, missing and
faded folios and differences should be clarified in foot
notes. Persons concerned in editing manuscripts know
full well that the variations in different copies however
appear well in the footnotes and also point to the effort
and endeavor of the editor to clarify the differences but
the degree of satisfaction achieved after the different
copies help each other in reading the complete text and
removing the difficulty, none other than the editor can
perceive it. 8
Publication
The manuscripts are to be published in print media for
application of ancient knowledge of healing in present scenario
for future generation.
1. The text of the manuscript should be published as such
without any alteration after collation and comparison
and noting down the mistakes found in the text.
2. The critical edition of the manuscript can be published
after confirming the confusion, misinterpretation of the
writer, omission in the subject and reconstruction by
adding missing folios and their parts.
Problems for the study of manuscript
It is necessary to know the sources of the documents
for historical development and improvement in the science
relating to drugs, diseases, method of treatment and so on.
1. Study of manuscripts in Unani Medicine is quite different
from other field of research
2. Problem of handling since the manuscript are centuries
old
3. Scholar should satisfy about the authenticity of the
manuscript.
4. Major information and interpretation of the language
and script will depend on the perfect understanding of
the individual scholar
5. Conclusions and views may differ from scholar to
scholar
6. Drugs and diseases mentioned in the manuscript vary
from region to region
7. Without knowing the technical terms and perfectly the
language of the script may mislead the scholar for understanding
8. Identification of nomenclature of drugs and diseases
transformed during the course of time
9. Faded, torn, insect bitten and lost folios may need special
attention for correct meaning. 6
Proforma for Collection and Information on Manuscripts 3
Example:
Introductory
Mss No 25
S. No
State Code
AP
Library Code
GNTC
Acc. No 3282
Source of Collection
Government Nizamia Tibbia College, Hyderabad
Date of Collection
Record No
Bundle No
Publication Status
Published
TECHNICAL
Title Sharah Al qanun fit Tib vol. 1
Other Titles
(Sharh Glani)
Author
Co-Author
Redactor
Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
ISHIM 2011-2012
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