Abstract: In the introduction of this manuscript entitled al-Īḍāḥ fī kullīyāt al-ṭibb (The clarification of the general principles of medicine), the author identifies himself as ‘Alī ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdullāh al-Anwarī, but nothing else is known about him. As the title suggests, the work is a medical text in the tradition of second-century physician and philosopher Galen and the great polymath and physician, Abū ʻAlī ibn Sīnā (known as Avicenna, 980–1037). The manuscript is arranged as an introductory section containing definitions followed by sections on theoretical medical knowledge and on practical medical knowledge. The theoretical section is further divided into four parts, which consider topics of natural philosophy, such as the four elements, and matters relating to the state of the body in health or illness. The practical section of the work is divided into two parts: the first concentrates on the preservation of health, and the second on the treatment of disease. The manuscript, in Naskh script, contains 23 lines to a page, with section headings highlighted in red ink, and numerous marginal notes in Persian and Arabic. The colophon indicates that the manuscript was completed on July 30, 1727, in Delhi.Physical description: 16 x 24.5 centimeters
Physical description: Material: PaperDimensions: 239 x 162 mm leaf [187 x 113 mm written]Foliation: British Museum foliation in pencil; Arabic foliation in pencilRuling: No signs of ruling; 17 lines per page; vertical spacing 9 lines per 10 cmScript: Naskh; fully dotted and heavily vocalisedInk: BlackBinding: British Museum bindingCondition: Some waterstains worse towards beginning and end (affects legibility most on ff. 49v-50r), minor wormholes, and light foxing; the lower corners towards the fore edge of ff.187-191have been torn off and repaired, but some text has been lostMarginalia: Some longer marginal notes especially in Item 1 (ff. 2v-82r); very few after thatSeals: f. 2r