The book on surgery became the first independent surgical treatise ever written. It covered a variety of treatments. Al- Tasrif, was also the first book which diagrammed surgical instruments, a massive range that detailed over 200 of them, the vast majority devised by Al-Zahrawi himself and many with modifications are still in use today. The obstetrical forceps used to extract dead foetus, are one example of his work on surgical instruments, not only that but he is also accredited with describing ectopic pregnancy in 963, curing a fatal affliction in those days. Another is his illustrations on various cannulae and being the first to treat a wart with an iron tube and caustic metal as a boring instrument.
He also detailed, again being the first to, the classic operation for cancer of the breast. Not only that but also lithotrities for bladder stones and ahead-of-his-time techniques on removing thyroid cysts. He also provided the first known description of the obstetric posture now known as Walcher’s position. His work also covered many other surgical issues such as the cauterisation of wounds, extraction of arrows and methods on setting bones in both simple and compound fractures.
Al- Zahrawi endorsed the use of antiseptics in his surgical works, noting the resultant reduction in mortality. The use of catgut for internal stitches a procedure still used today, unsurprisingly was also devised by Al-Zahrawi. Among other sutures, he devised some from silk, wool and other substances.
He was also a great teacher with a deep understanding of ethics and morals, known to affectionately refer to his students as his children. He was a staunch believer in caring for anyone, regardless of their social status. In encouraging a close observation of the patient and regarding them as individual cases (a core principle of the NHS’s patient cantered care scheme), he was largely accurate in his diagnoses.
He was respected in his time, raised to even be the court physician; his works were quoted in most case more than Galen’s. In fact his book was translated 5 times into Latin, and was to be used as the most valued reference in the western world for another 500 years. His works spread into the fields of chemistry, pharmacology and sociology. As summed up by Pietro Argallata a prominent surgeon (15th Cent.) he was "Without doubt the chief of all surgeons".
I cannot hope do justice to all of Al-Zahrawi’s work in just 600 words. Yet modern day medicine seems to have forgotten one of its greatest unsung heroes, Abu al-Qasim Al-Zahrawi, Albucasis. The only remaining testament of his awe-inspiring life and works are to be found in a quiet avenue, Calle Albucasis in Cordoba and if you were to walk down to the front of house no.6, on that very avenue you would find under the shade of a lemon tree, there placed on the white wall a bronzed plaque, that reads; ‘This was the house where Abu al-Qasim Al-Zahrawi lived.’
Truly, a great legacy.