Accepted as the author's autograph, these three volumes, which are somewhat incomplete, comprise the thirty-third, forty-second, and forty-third volumes of the Comprehensive Book on the Art of Medicine by Ibn al-Nafis who died in Cairo in 1288. It is thought that Ibn-Nafis may completed this work in as many as 300 manuscript volumes that he may have published only 80 volumes in manuscript, which would have circulated in scribal copies. Of the very extensive writings that Ibn-Nafis is understood to have written, these volumes at the Lane Library are the only autograph manuscripts by Ibn-al-Nafis which have been preserved, and one of a very number of autograph manuscripts by any famous medieval Arab physician that survived. Ibn al-Nafis, a Syrian physician of the 13th century, was credited with various innovations, most notably the discovery of the lesser circulation, three centuries before Servetus (1553) and Columbo (1559).--J. Norman, 2006. The first volume of these manuscripts contains a study of plants, minerals, and animals from the medical point of view. These are arranged alphabetically Vol. 2 continues the study and covers the letters taÌ., thaÌ., and jiÌ.m. It consists of two sections: Vol. 3 is a study of the use of the hand and surgical instruments for medical purposes. Vol. 1 contains a study of plants, minerals, and animals from the medical point of view. These are arranged alphabetically and the volume covers baʼ. Vol. 2 continues the study and covers the letters tā, thā, and jīm. It consists of two sections: Sect. 1 contains the third book (Kitāb), second part (Juzʼ), of the third Fann. Sect. 2 contains the fourth book, the second part of the third Fann. Vol. 3 is a study of the use of the hand and surgical instruments for medical purposes. It contains the third book of the second part of the third Fann.
