Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Al-Jaldakī ’S Views About What the Doctor Needs, in the Lights
of the Science of the Balance
Buthaina JALKHI, Osama DHABBEET,
George ILIAS SHAQRA
of the third article taken from the fourth volume of ‘‘Alborhan
fi asrar elm al meezan’. We summarize the diagnosis
process mentioned by Al-Jaldakī by the followings:
The first step:
The doctor starts by measuring the greatest balance
which is the balance of the pulses. This is done by feeling
the patient’s pulses.
The second step:
In this step, the doctor measures the patient’s balance in
movements and silence.
The third step:
The doctor measures the balance of the patient’s mind,
perception, illusion, imagination, comprehension, and the
signs of safety.
The fourth step:
The doctor examines the patient’s wastes. Thus, the
doctor needs to know the balance of substances discharged
through the patient’s mouth such as vomit or saliva. Wastes
from the patient’s body like sweats are also considered, for
example, the sweats’ characteristics, smell, structure, quantity,
balance, turbidity, and color. Other wastes from eyes,
nose, or discharged through the urethra are studied. For
example, the doctor examines the color of the urine, clarity,
gravity, mucus, and crystals.
The fifth step:
In order to diagnose the illness, the doctor needs to define
the reasons that caused the disease. This reason could
be a stroke, a sniff, retardation in connection, a tumor, risks
to some organs, psychological reasons, or a mingling between
these reasons.
The sixth Step:
The doctor states the balance of a sole medicine, by
choosing the available drug and the easiest to be used.
Thus, ordering a suitable amount of medicine enhances the
instinctive protection of the body against the illness, and
purifies the body of impurity.
Al-Jaldakī concentrated on the importance of prescriptions
because any disorder not only would cease the effect
of the medicine, but also it might terminate the instinctive
protection and kill the patient.
Al-Jaldakī says that:
“We say that Medicine editing is the doctor’s knowledge
and experience in diagnosing the disease. If the doctor
accurately diagnoses the disease, then he will be able
to treat patients with a sole medicine, or pharmacopoeia
depending on the natural balance of the illness, patient’s
age, country, traditions, and mood. Thus, if the doctor
knows these factors, he will be able to cure the patient
with the assistance of God. On the other hand, neglecting
these factors affect not only the diagnosis of the illness and
treatment, but also might kill the patient. This is because
the doctor might mistake in giving the accurate balance of
medicine, the thing that might strengthen the illness, and
thus, kill the patient. For this reason, the doctor should
be a man of knowledge of medicine, treatment, and the
science of balance. A last advice is that if the doctor was
a believer in God, and failed in knowing the disease, then
he should not start treatment.
In the medical examination nowadays, the doctor follows
these steps:
1. Asking the patient to point to the hurt to diagnose
whether the disease is psychological or organic.
2. Asking the patient of the foods and drinks that he has
taken and the places that he has moved through.
3. Measuring the patient’s pulses and temperature to diagnose
the disease.
4. Ordering some medical analyses to make sure of the diagnosis.
5. Ordering the suitable prescriptions.
The previous steps of medical examination completely
correspond with what Al-Jaldakī had mentioned the thing
that shows the objectivity of that scientist and his wide
knowledge.
ISHIM 2011-2012
23