De Gradibus: Difference between revisions
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He developed a mathematical scale to quantify the strength of a [[drug]], and a system, based the phases of the [[Moon]], that would allow a doctor to determine in advance the most [[Medical conditions|critical days]] of a [[patient]]'s [[illness]].<ref> Klein-Franke, p172 </ref> |
He developed a mathematical scale to quantify the strength of a [[drug]], and a system, based the phases of the [[Moon]], that would allow a doctor to determine in advance the most [[Medical conditions|critical days]] of a [[patient]]'s [[illness]].<ref> Klein-Franke, p172 </ref> |
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During the [[Latin translations of the 12th century|Arabic-Latin translation movement of the 12th century]], ''De Gradibus'' was translated into [[Latin]] by [[Gerard of Cremona]].<ref name=Plinio-19/> Due to the complex [[Islamic mathematics|mathematical reasoning]] employed in the book, many European physicians |
During the [[Latin translations of the 12th century|Arabic-Latin translation movement of the 12th century]], ''De Gradibus'' was translated into [[Latin]] by [[Gerard of Cremona]].<ref name=Plinio-19/> Due to the complex [[Islamic mathematics|mathematical reasoning]] employed in the book, many early European physicians initially had difficulty in interpreting his quantification of drug strength, such as [[Roger Bacon]] who wrote the following commentary:<ref>Plinio Prioreschi, "Al-Kindi, A Precursor Of The Scientific Revolution", ''Journal of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine'', 2002 (2): 17-19 [18].</ref> |
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{{quote|"The degree [of a [[Compounding|compound]]] can only be determined by the method taught by Al-Kindi’s ''De gradibus'', one extremely difficult and almost entirely unknown among Latin physicians of these days, as everyone is aware. Whoever wants to become perfect in this [[Early Islamic philosophy|philosopher]]’s art must know the fundamentals of [[Islamic mathematics|mathematics]], because the species of greater and lesser [[inequality]], the species of [[ratio]]s, and the very difficult rules of [[Fraction (mathematics)|fraction]]s are all used by this author."}} |
{{quote|"The degree [of a [[Compounding|compound]]] can only be determined by the method taught by Al-Kindi’s ''De gradibus'', one extremely difficult and almost entirely unknown among Latin physicians of these days, as everyone is aware. Whoever wants to become perfect in this [[Early Islamic philosophy|philosopher]]’s art must know the fundamentals of [[Islamic mathematics|mathematics]], because the species of greater and lesser [[inequality]], the species of [[ratio]]s, and the very difficult rules of [[Fraction (mathematics)|fraction]]s are all used by this author."}} |
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Revision as of 05:49, 17 December 2007
De Gradibus was an Arabic book published by the Arab physician Al-Kindi (c. 801–873 CE). De gradibus is the Latinized name of the book. An alternative name for the book was Quia Primos.[1]
He describes there the original innovation of applying mathematics to pharmacology and specifically the quantification of the effect of drugs. For example, he developed a mathematical scale to quantify the strength of drugs. Al-Kindi was the first one who tried to use a serious quantification in medicine.[2]
He developed a mathematical scale to quantify the strength of a drug, and a system, based the phases of the Moon, that would allow a doctor to determine in advance the most critical days of a patient's illness.[3]
During the Arabic-Latin translation movement of the 12th century, De Gradibus was translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona.[1] Due to the complex mathematical reasoning employed in the book, many early European physicians initially had difficulty in interpreting his quantification of drug strength, such as Roger Bacon who wrote the following commentary:[4]
"The degree [of a compound] can only be determined by the method taught by Al-Kindi’s De gradibus, one extremely difficult and almost entirely unknown among Latin physicians of these days, as everyone is aware. Whoever wants to become perfect in this philosopher’s art must know the fundamentals of mathematics, because the species of greater and lesser inequality, the species of ratios, and the very difficult rules of fractions are all used by this author."
References
- ^ a b Plinio Prioreschi, "Al-Kindi, A Precursor Of The Scientific Revolution", Journal of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine, 2002 (2): 17-19 [19].
- ^ P. Prioreschi. Al-Kindi, A Precursor of The Scientific Revolution
- ^ Klein-Franke, p172
- ^ Plinio Prioreschi, "Al-Kindi, A Precursor Of The Scientific Revolution", Journal of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine, 2002 (2): 17-19 [18].