JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON HISTORY OF MEDICINE
Year:2012 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:7

Although there has been great progress in medical sciences, taking good care of human’s health and treatment of many of diseases satisfactorily are still out of reach. Regardless of having different understanding of the reasons and treatment methods, our new perspective of medical sciences, which is considered the result of the scientific renaissance in Europe in the 17th century by some and the result of Islamic Revolution in the 8th and 9th centuries by others, has not yet helped us to find cures for a lot of diseases.The theory of growing advances in the history of science which considers all the past efforts effective in the future achievements is not completely consistent with scientific methodology in which the issues related to the growth of science, making theories, principles and new scientific rules are discussed. From another aspect the dominant paradigm during each period of history gives the survival chance to the sentences which are solely consistent with the imposed paradigm framework. Anything inconsistent with the sole of that paradigm is victimized without any undeniable and clear reasons.

Although Iran has a deep history about 10000 years, its role in development of science in general and medicine in particular is yet to be known. There are several factors responsible for this, namely the destruction of a good number of ancient Persian manuscripts and books. Furthermore, lack of interest found among contemporary researchers seems to add to this anonymity. One way to compensate for this is to introduce scientific figures of the time. In this regard, Jamasp, as the great Persian scientist who lived about 500 BC, is introduced in this article. He was the minister of king Vishtasb and contemporary with Zoroaster. Though Jamasp is known as a great astronomer, physician, pharmacist, chemist and botanist by historians, he is a good candidate for the title “the father of Persian pharmacy”.

Louis Hubert Farabeuf was born in Bannost (Sein-et-Marne) on May 6th 1841 and died in Beton-Bazoche (Aisne) in August 1910. He was Professor and Director of the Anatomical Department of the Faculty of Medicine in Paris until 1878. In 1879, he founded the School of Practical Studies in Paris, which contributed to anatomical studies. Farabeuf designed many surgical procedures. His manual of operatory surgery was published in 1893 and was well known. He described the triangle that is named after him and described it in hisPrecis de manuel operatoire, published in 1872. This triangle (Farabeuf’s triangle) is formed by the internal jugular vein, common facial vein and hypoglossal nerve. The jugulodigastric node can usually be found within the borders of this surgical triangle. In 1878, Farabeuf was named Head of Anatomical Studies a position that had been occupied by such great names as Dupuytren, Beclar, Curveilhier, Breschet, Denonvilliers, and Sappey.

Throughout history, there have always been different opinions about the necessity and methods of contraception in different cultures. Persian medical scientists in the medieval era illustrated different contraceptive methods in their manuscripts. Avicenna, for example, discussed different types of contraceptive methods in Canon, one of the most important medical books written in the 10th century AD.In this paper, we describe the indications as well as two types of contraceptive methods derived from canon of Medicine: Physical & psychological methods and pharmacological Methods (Materia Medica). Reviewing such issues can not only present Avicenna’s professional and scientific knowledge but also help researchers in modern medicine to conduct experiments to find newer and more efficient prevention methods with fewer side effects.

Being contemporary with Avicenna and Rhazes, Abu Maher Shirazi was born in Shiraz the 10th century AD. He was known asthe first influential physician in Shiraz in the Islamic period and his students, such as Haly Abbas, called him a great scientist. Concerning his significant impact on medicine in this era, Abu Maher Shirazi is a good candidate for the title “the Founder of Shiraz Medical Doctrine”.