Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

A Study of a Persian Manuscript ‘Ilajul Atfal’ written by a Deccan Physician
‘Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan’ and its Translation into English
Ashfaque AHMAD
16. Amber Ash-hab (Ambergris) 1 gm
17. Syrup of Ghorah (sour grapes) 750 ml
18. Sugar 1500 gm
19. Pure Honey 500 gm
In the Chapter of Management of the pregnant and
ةلماح ريبدت puerperal women (Tadbeer Hamila O Nufasa
the author has enumerated the precautions that ‏(ءاسفنو
can prevent the miscarriage during pregnancy, for example
he has written:
The woman should avoid all factors which can aggravate
the miscarriage such as:
1. Trauma or falling,
2. Excessive coitus against normal position,
3. Venesection and purging during 1 st and 3 rd trimester,
4. Shock, fear, anxiety, anger,
5. Lifting of heavy weight,
6. Insertion of any drug inside the womb,
7. Exposure to excessive heat or cold,
8. Eating of sour, pungent and bitter things,
9. Congestion and overfilling of the stomach
10. Ingestion of toxic and bitter medication
11. Excessive enema or diuresis
12. Excessive hunger or thirst
13. Severe pain, fever, illness or uterus disease.
The author has also mentioned the treatment of children
for frightening during sleep and awakening as he
writes:
Some children wake up from a frightening dream and
start crying. One of these conditions is that child has seen
some frightening thing during wakefulness and the shape
of that thing fixed to the mind, during sleep it reappeared
in the mind and caused frightening.
Treatment: Frightening object should be ascertained
and the fear is removed from the mind of the child. He
should be made brave and familiar to that frightening object
and should be engaged with some types of sports.
Formulation: Initially pure and fine rice is soaked in the
water, a little of this rice water is given to child. The bone of
the crab is burnt into ash and mixed with the sugar is also
useful.
Another Formulation:
1. Roasted dried coriander
2. Chashm Sartan (Crab’s eye)
3. Tabasheer (Bambusa arundinacea)
4. Zahr Mohra Khatai (Benzoar stone)
5. Fad Zahr Buzzi (Goat antidote)
All these drugs are powdered, added with sugar and
given to the child.
ISHIM 2011-2012
Another formulation:
1. Peeled dried coriander,
2. Maghz tukhm kaddu shiri (Pumpkin seeds)
3. Tabasheer (Bambusa arundinacea)
4. White Sandal (Santalum album)
5. Gaozaban (Borago officinalis) flower
6. Abresham (Silk Cocoon)
7. Pearl imperforated
8. Zahr Mohra Khatai (Benzoar stone)
9. Milk of Amla
10. Post bairun Pista (Pistachio nut shell)
11. Post Zard Atraj (Citron shell)
All these drugs are crushed, powdered and added with
sugar equal amount of all drugs and given to the child. In
case of infants the drug should be given to the mother. Efforts
are made for strengthening of the stomach of the mother and
child such as Unani formulations like Jawarish Mastagi and
Jawarish Uod Shiri should be given to the mother earlier.
Thick vapors due to indigestion ascend to the brains which
lead to discomfort of the stomach and fear during sleep.
Conclusion:
I hope the researchers in the subject of pediatrics will
get benefits from Unani prescriptions of this book and new
compounds will come into light by working on the exploration
and research of Unani drugs mentioned in this book
which will contribute for reduction of many diseases in
children. We should try to be more productive, focused,
intuitive, analytical and creative.
Acknowledgement:
I am grateful to the Director General, CCRAS, New Delhi
and Director, National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage
(CCRAS), Hyderabad for creating good working environment
in the institute where our latent capacities through innovation
and excellence could flower, and also for providing
the facilities for printing the original Persian text of the Mss
along with English translation the first time ever.
Thanks are also due to the Principal, Government Nizamia
Tibbi College Library, Hyderabad, who has given me
access to the manuscript of Ilajul Atfal.
References
1. Manuscript of Ilajul Atfal, 1833 AD, available at A. P. Government
Oriental Manuscript Library and Research Institute, Hyderabad, India
with Accession No. 9022.
2. Manuscript of Ilajul Atfal, 1848 AD, available with Accession no. 439
at National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (CCRAS), Hyderabad,
India
3. Four copies of Manuscripts of Ilajul Atfal available at Government
Nizamia Tibbi College Library, Hyderabad, India
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