Managing Prosperity
‘The Abbasids supported and patronised medical research and medical practitioners.’
The Abbasids supported and patronised medical research and medical practitioners. Great developments in medicine were achieved: books on a variety of medical subjects were written and translated; medical experiments were conducted and documented and a number of medical instruments were designed to deal with a variety of procedures.
Fragment of a medical prescription

Hegira beginning of the 2nd century / AD 8th century
Abbasid
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.