Drawings and Pharmacy in Al-Zahrawi's 10th-Century Surgical Treatise

This study opens a window onto the surgical world of the 10th‑century Arab physician al‑Zahrawi, whose final treatise in the encyclopaedic al‑Tasrīf is celebrated for its clear prose and pioneering illustrations. The author brings readers face‑to‑face with the original manuscript images—instrument sketches, cauterisation diagrams, and formulae—showing how they were designed to teach apprentices the delicate art of early surgery.

Beyond simply reproducing the pictures, the work compares the authentic drawings with later, often altered, copies that appeared in medieval Latin editions. It highlights the pharmacological recipes embedded in the text, offering insight for modern students of historic medicine. By weaving visual analysis with commentary on therapeutic practices, the book reveals why al‑Zahrawi’s treatise was so influential in both the Islamic world and medieval Europe, and how its legacy continues to inform the history of surgery and pharmacy today.