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This page provides some background to the history of pharmacy in Iraq and the current situation in Iraq.
History
Iraq, a land of many civilizations, was not short on contributions to science, and in particular, pharmacy. Baghdad was a prominent centre for
science and culture in the medieval ages during the Abbasi reign, Iraq produced a collection of brilliant scientists who did not only translate and preserve ancient Greek,
Persian and Indian texts - which were later passed on to Europe - but they also added their own contributions to science.
Scientists like Jabir bin Hayyan, the author of many chemistry and alchemy books like the Jabirian Codec; a book on Poisons and their Antidotes,
Sabur bin Sahl, the author of the Aqrabadhin, the first medical formulary which became a guidebook for pharmacists,
and Ibn Masawayh who wrote al-Mushajjar al-Kabir; a tabulated medical encyclopedia on diseases and their treatment by drugs and diet.
In ninth century Baghdad, pharmacists and their shops were subject to the first ever regulation, inspected by a
government appointed official al-Muhtasib, and his aides. These officials checke accuracy of the weights
and measures as well as the purity of the drugs used. Such supervision was intended to prevent
the use of deteriorating compounded drugs and syrups, and to safeguard the public. Manuals on materia medica - which
was translated from Greek to Arabic by Abu ja'far Muhammad b. Musa, Hunayn - were used by pharmacists.
Arabic Legacies National Libary of Medicine US.
Islamic Culture and the Medical Arts National Libary of Medicine US.
Islamic Medical Manuscripts National Libary of Medicine US.
The present
Pharmacy in Baghdad by By S. A. Jafar
Pharmaceutical chaos: e-mails from an academic pharmacist in Iraq.
Life as a student in Iraq: what impact has the war had on pharmacy? [PDF]
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