Abulcasis (936-1013), Islamic Spanish physician, in the hospital at Cordoba, Spain. Abulcasis is a Latinised form. His full Arabic name is Abu al-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi. Abulcasis, who was court physician to the Andalusian caliph Al-Hakam II, is one of the most famous Islamic surgeons. He is considered the Father of Surgery. He wrote Al-Tasrif, a 30-volume collection of medical books covering subjects such as surgery, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, pharmacology and nutrition. Oil painting by Ernst Board (1877-1934). |