Hydrocephalus and its treatment according to Rhazes

Abstract

The renowned medieval Persian physician Rhazes was an early proponent of experimental medicine. Rhazes made fundamental and enduring contributions to medicine and to other scientific fields. He wrote over 200 scientific books, more than half of which concerned medicine. He was well versed in Persian, Greek, and Indian medical knowledge, and made numerous contributions to the medical field through his own observations and discoveries. He was also a pioneer in the field of neurosurgery and, as he was predominantly a pediatrician, he dealt with the subject of hydrocephalus. A large part of his medical tome, al-Hawi, deals with head-related disorders including the hydrocephalus. Although he did not introduce novel concepts of hydrocephalus and its management, by combining the different approaches of experienced scholars he endeavored to improve treatment and knowledge of this problematic disease.