Al-Razi: A Distinguished Physician of the Medieval History: A Review of his Method and Influence

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakriya al-Razi (841-924 CE) known in West as Rhazes and Albubator was born in the city of Ray, worked as a chemist and pursued his study in medicine to become a distinguished physician. He was one of the prominent medical scientists of the middle age. He was known as “the Arab Galen”. He was an intellectual and arguably the most innovative of all the Muslim physicians. He became superintendent in the hospital of Baghdad. He was also one of the most profound and prolific writers of his age, and left voluminous writings. He wrote 237 books but most of them are extinct. Based on the existing documents, he was known as the most distinguished character in the world of medicine up to the 17th century. A great number of innovations and pioneering works in medical science have been recorded in the name of Rhazes. He described the etiology, signs, symptoms, epidemiology, treatment and prevention of this malady (any disorder or disease of the body, especially one that is chronic or deep seated) more than a thousand year ago, hasn’t been taken into consideration appropriately. Path physiology of the urinary tract, venereal diseases, and kidney and bladder calculi are among his main interests in this field. He also presented a very exact and precise description of neuropathic bladder followed by vertebral fracture. Rhazes was not only one of the most important Persian physician-philosophers of his era, but for centuries, his writings became fundamental teaching texts in European medical schools. He also conducted research on smallpox and measles and was the first to announce the usage of alcohol for medical proposes. Some these important aspects of his contributions to medicine are reviewed. This paper will try to some shed on life and contribution that has been carried out by Al-Razi. It is hoped that, by remembering Al-Razi contribution to medical science; contemporary societies, particularly Muslim scholars will be inspired.