Name | Dynasty | Details | Justification |
Fragment of a medical prescription | Hegira beginning of the 2nd century / AD 8th centuryAbbasid | Museum of Islamic Art Cairo, Egypt | Physicians knew of the medicinal benefits of certain plants. The Aloe Vera plant is prescribed in this document, combined with other substances, to treat a number of different conditions. |
Glass vessel possibly for chemistry | Around hegira 3rd–4th century / AD 9th–10th centuryAbbasid | National Museum of Damascus Damascus, Syria | Medical compounds were made by pharmacists, but dispensed by physicians as well as pharmacies. These medicines included elixirs, ointments, pills and tablets. |
Spoon | Hegira 3rd century / AD 9th centuryAbbasid | Museum of Islamic Art Cairo, Egypt | Medical examination of the mouth and throat was carried out with the aid of a spoon-shaped instrument like this one, used to press down the tongue. It was also used in surgery to remove the tonsils. |
Surgical scalpel | Hegira 3rd century / AD 9th centuryAbbasid | Museum of Islamic Art Cairo, Egypt | Abbasid surgeons knew the importance of hygiene when conducting surgical operations. Hospitals (bimaristans) were established to provide treatment and medical training. |
Implement to remove teeth | Hegira 3rd century / AD 9th centuryAbbasid | Museum of Islamic Art Cairo, Egypt | Fustat, where this instrument was found, was a well-known centre of the medical sciences; it was here that Ahmad Ibn Tulun ordered the construction of Bimaristan al-'Alaa in 254 / 868. |