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Catalogue: Dietetics and Regimen

Diet / Foodstuffs:

Discourses on diet and the medicinal value of various foods was of course part of general treatises on regimen as well as general medical encyclopedias and comprehensive manuals on pharmaceutics. Some treatises, however, focused upon the matter of food, and these have been selected for inclusion in this section though they might just as well have been placed in some other categories.

A very important, in fact unique, copy of a poem on diet and foodstuffs written in the 13th century by a famous astronomer al-Marrākushī was catalogued in the section dealing with medical poetry (MS A 85, item 3).

Tadāruk anwā‘ al-khaṭā’ al-wāqi‘ fī al-tadbīr (MS A 73): (Rectifying Mistakes Occurring in Regimen); تدارك انوع الخطاء الواقع فى التدبير; or; Fī-mā yadfa‘u darar al-aghdhiyah; (On What Will Counteract the Harmful Effect of Diet); by Abū ‘Alī al-Ḥusayn ibn ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) (d. 1037/428); ابو على الحسين ابن عبد الله ابن سينا

This treatise by Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) on dietetics and regimen is known by several titles: Tadāruk anwā‘ al-khaṭā’ al-wāqi‘ fī al-tadbīr (Rectifying Mistakes Occurring in Regimen), which is the title given in the NLM copy, Fī-mā yadfa‘u darar al-aghdhiyah (On What Will Counteract the Harmful Effect of Diet), and also Daf‘ al-maḍārr al-kullīyah ‘an al-abdān al-insānīyah (Repelling All Harm from Human Bodies). The versions that circulate under the latter title, however, are longer treatises -- that is, the treatise as represented by the NLM copy appears to be only a portion of the longer treatise.

The treatise is on counteracting the harmful effects of various foods and poor regimen, in six chapters (maqalahs).

The NLM copy has a different ending from the copies in the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine in London and from the copy now in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

For other copies, see Ullmann, Medizin, p. 191 note 1, Savage-Smith, "Bodleian", MS Hunt. 421 item 3; Iskandar "UCLA", p. 40; Iskandar, "Wellcome, p. 94; New Haven, Conn., Yale University, Beineke Library, MS Landberg 473, item 2 (see Leon Nemoy, "Arabic Manuscripts in the Yale University Library," Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences (1956), vol. 40, pp. 1-273, no. 1505); and London, Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, Haddad Coll., MS 470 (see Farid Sami Haddad and Hans Hinrich Biesterfeldt, Fihris al-makhtutat al-tibbiyah al-‘arabiyah fi maktabat al-Duktur Sami Ibrahim Haddad, (Aleppo, 1984), no. 22; and Sotheby's Fine Oriental Manuscripts 22 Nov 1985 [sale catalogue], lot 470);

Tadāruk anwā‘ al-khaṭā’ al-wāqi‘ fī al-tadbīr (MS A 73)

Illustrations

Folio 36b from Avicenna's Tadāruk anwā‘ al-khaṭā’ al-wāqi‘ fī al-tadbīr (Rectifying Mistakes Occurring in Regimen) featuring the colophon written in the margin. The thin, glossy, fibrous, ivory paper has wavy laid lines. The text is written in a professional ta‘liq script, in black ink with red overlinings.

MS A 73, fol. 36b

The final page of a treatise by Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) titled Tadāruk anwā‘ al-khaṭā’ al-wāqi‘ fī al-tadbīr (Rectifying Mistakes Occurring in Regimen). In the colophon, written in the margin, it is stated that an unnamed copyist completed the on 8 Rabi‘ II 1120 (= 17 June 1708).

Physical Description

Arabic. 36 leaves (fols. 1b-36b). Dimensions 18.2 x 11.5 (text area 12 x 6.3); 12 lines per page. The title is given as Tadāruk anwā‘ al-khaṭā’ al-wāqi‘ fī al-tadbīr on fol. 1b in a marginal heading. The author's name is also given in marginal heading (fol. 1b) as Shaykh al-Ra'is, the conventional designation of Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna).

The copy is dated in the colophon (margin of fol. 36b) where it is said that an unnamed copyist completed it on 8 Rabi‘ II 1120 (= 17 June 1708). Sommer (Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS, p. 321) mistakenly gives the date as 28 Rabi‘ II.

It is apparently a complete copy, with the text finishing in the margin of fol. 36b, but ending differently from copies now in London and Oxford. The text is written in a professional ta‘liq script, in black ink with red overlinings. The text area has been frame-ruled. There are catchwords.

The text has been collated; there is a collation note on fol. 9b and a few marginal emendations.

The thin, glossy, fibrous, ivory paper has wavy laid lines but no visible chain lines.

The volume consists of 36 leaves. Fol. 1a blank except for two much later casually written owners' notes.

Binding

The volume is bound in soft green leather covers with red leather edging and spine. There are red paper pastedowns; there are no endpapers.

Provenance

The volume was purchased in 1941 by the Army Medical Library apparently from A. S. Yahuda. No further information is available on its provenance.

References

Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS., entry A73, p. 321, where the date of the copy is mistakenly read as 28 Rabi‘ II.

Hamarneh, "NLM", p. 93.

NLM Microfilm Reel: FILM 48-126 no. 6

Diet / Foodstuffs:

Two treatises on food and drink: by Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd [al-Dīn] Vaṭvāṭ (fl. c. 1290/689); امين الدين رشيد [الدين] وطواط

These two Persian treatises occur together, immediately following one another in the same volume (NLM MS P 26, items 1 and 2). The second of the two items, on the general preparation of food and drink, is definitely attributable to Vaṭvāṭ since he is named as the author and the dedication to his patron, Arghun Khan who ruled from 1284/683 to 1291/690, is specified.

A much shorter treatise on the same topic, also written by order of Arghun Khan, is preserved in another library in an untitled manuscript where the author is given as Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd al-Dīn Otaji. A Persian tabular treatise on the same topic written by Amīn al-Dīn Otaji and dedicated to Maḥmūd Ghazan Khan (who ruled from 1295/694 to 1304/) is preserved in two copies in other libraries. For both these treatises see Storey PL II, 2, p. 217 no. 373.

The treatise now at NLM, with author given as Amin al-Din Rashid Vaṭvāṭ, is presumably by the same author whose name appears as Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd al-Dīn Otaji in other manuscripts. A direct comparison of the texts, however, with the copy at NLM has not been undertaken.

The other treatise in the manuscript at NLM here catalogued does not have the author specified, but it is virtually identical in format to the tabular treatise that was dedicated to Mahmud Ghazan Khan. Consequently it is likely to also have been composed by Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd al-Dīn Vaṭvāṭ (or Otaji).

For these reasons the two treatises are here presented together.

[On Food and Drink] (MS P 26, item 2): by Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd [al-Dīn] Vaṭvāṭ (fl. c. 1290/689); امين الدين رشيد [الدين] وطواط

The NLM copy is untitled, but the author is clearly named, as is his patron Arghun Khan, who ruled from 1284-1291.

The NLM copy is undated, probably early 18th century.

It is very likely the same treatise as that preserved in one other copy where the author is given as Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd al-Dīn Otaji; see Storey PL II,2, p. 217 no. 373.

The treatise has not been published in a modern translation or edition.

Physical Description

Persian. 43 leaves (fols. 20a-62b). Dimensions 19 x 12.4 (text area 12 x 6.3) cm; 12 lines per page. The treatise ends on line 3 of fols. 62b. No title is given. The author's name is given on fol. 20a lines 8-9 as Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd Vaṭvāṭ. It is stated in the following line that he composed the treatise for Arghun Khan.

The manuscript is undated, but the appearance of the paper, ink, and handwriting suggests a dating of the early 18th century. This item in the volume was copied by the same unnamed copyist who transcribed the other items in the volume.

A complete copy. The text is written in a medium-small, careful and professional naskh tending toward ta‘liq with black ink with headings in black and in red. The text area has been frame-ruled. There are catchwords.

There are some marginal corrections and some later marginalia.

[A Tabular Treatise on Foods] (MS P 26, item 1): anonymous [possibly by Amīn al-Dīn Rashīd al-Dīn Vaṭvāṭ (fl. c. 1290/689)]; امين الدين رشيد [الدين] وطواط

This untitled Persian treatise is in tabular format, in four columns. It presents information regarding various foods and their names, uses, and harmful effects.

No author is given, but its occurrence just before a rare copy of a Persian treatise on the food and drink by Amin al-Din Rashid al-Din Vaṭvāṭ and its similarity to a tabular treatise on the same subject that was written by Amin al-din Rashid al-Din Otaji (or Vaṭvāṭ) and preserved today in other copies, strongly suggests that this treatise was written him as well. See Storey PL II,2, p. 217.

No other copy has been identified, though it may be a copy of the treatise described by Storey PL II,2, p. 217 no. 373 as having the title Taqwim al-sihhah.

It has not been published in a modern translation or edition.

Physical Description

Persian. 19 leaves (fols. 1a-19b). Dimensions 19 x 12.4 (text area 11 x 7.6) cm. Text is written in cells of six rows of either 4 or 5 columns. No title or author is given.

A complete copy. The text is written in a small, careful naskh tending toward ta‘liq in black ink with headings in black and in red. The text is written in cells (delineated in red ink) of six rows of either 4 or 5 columns. There are catchwords.

--------------------

Both treatises are from the same volume and are written on the same paper, possibly by the same hand.

The very glossy beige paper has occasional thin patches and indistinct wavy horizontal laid lines, but no chain lines. The same paper was used throughout the volume. There is waterstaining on the three open sides of all the leaves. The edges or corner of a number of leaves have been repaired. There has been some earlier numbering of some folios in pencilled Western numerals, but they are badly out of sequence with the recent foliation.

The volume consists of 118 leaves. Item 1 (fols. 1a-19b) is an anonymous and untitled tabular treatise on foods possibly attributed to Vaṭvāṭ and catalogued here, and item 2 (fols. 20a-62b) is the treatise definitely by Vaṭvāṭ and also here catalogued. Item 3 (fols. 62b-88b) is the Maqālat fī al-‘izām lil-muta‘allimīn by Galen (MS P 26, item 3), and item 4 (fols. 88b-109a) the Maqālat fī tashrīḥ al-‘aḍal also by Galen (MS P 26, item 4). Item 5 (fols. 109b-113a) contains compound remedies, anonymous and untitled (MS P 26, item 5), and item 6 (fols. 113a-118b) is an anonymous and untitled tract on sexual hygiene (MS P 26, item 6).

Binding

The volume is bound in modern binding of brown leather over pasteboards. There are modern paper pastedowns and endpapers.

Provenance

The volume was purchased in 1941 by the Army Medical Library from A.S. Yahuda (ELS 2375).

References

Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS., entry P26, p. 338.

NLM Microfilm Reel: FILM 48-137 no. 1

Diet / Foodstuffs:

[On Foodstuffs] (MS P 16.1, item 3): by Ghiyāth al-Dīn ‘Ali al-Iṣfahānī (fl. 879/1474); غياث الدين على ابن اميرا الحسينى الاصفهاني

This untitled Persian treatise on foodstuffs consists largely of tables. The author is best known for his encyclopedia of the natural sciences (meterology, mineralogy, botany, and anatomy) which was completed in 1474. This small treatise may be related to the encyclopedia, though the latter contains no tables or charts.

[on foodstuffs] (MS P 16.1, item 3)

Illustrations

Folio 109b from MS P 16.1 which features an untitled treatise on foodstuffs by Ghiyāth al-Dīn ‘Ali al-Iṣfahānī. The glossy, beige paper is thin and rather brittle, with very wavy laid lines. The text is written in a medium-large nasta‘liq script, widely-spaced and carefully rendered. Black ink with headings in red.

MS P 16.1,
fol. 109b

Folio 110a from MS P 16.1 which features an untitled treatise on foodstuffs by Ghiyāth al-Dīn ‘Ali al-Iṣfahānī. The folio consists of visual acuity diagrams. The glossy, beige paper is thin and rather brittle, with very wavy laid lines.

MS P 16.1,
fol. 110a

Visual acuity diagrams from the ophthalmological manual written in Egypt toward the end of the 14th century by Ṣadaqah ibn Ibrāhīm al-Shadhilī. The undated copy was completed sometime before an owner's note was placed in the volume in 1723/1135.

Physical Description

Persian. 8 folios (fols.108b-115b). Dimensions 20.0 x 11.2 cm; text area 11.7 x 6.7 cm; 11 lines per page (variable). The author is given on folio 109b, line 1, as Ghiyāth al-Dīn ‘Ali al-Iṣfahānī. There is no title.

The copy is undated and unsigned. The appearance of the paper, script, and ink suggests a date of the 17th century.

The copy is incomplete. The poem breaks off abruptly on fol. 115b in the midst of the 8th chapter (fasl). The text is written in a medium-large nasta‘liq script, widely-spaced and carefully rendered. Black ink with headings in red; the overlinings has possibly been added later. There are catchwords.

The glossy, beige paper is thin and rather brittle, with very wavy laid lines but no visible chain lines. The leaves are dyed pink or pale green. The edges have been trimmed from their original size, and the paper has been soiled through thumbing.

The volume consists of 118 folios plus a preliminary leaf. The verso of the preliminary leaf and fols. 1a-2b, 4a, and 117a are blank. The recto of the preliminary leaf as well as folios 3a-3b, 105a-108a, and 117b-118b have casually written recipes and notes added by a later hand. tem 1, fols. 4b-5a is the anonymous poem titled Dar bayan-i narah va han (MS P 16.1, item 1). Item 2 (fols. 5a-104b) is the metrical compendium by Nāgawrī (MS P 16.1, item 2), and item 3 (fols. 108b-115b) is here catalogued.

Binding

The volume is bound in red leather over boards. In the center of each cover has a blind tooled medallion framed by blind tooled lines and circular designs. The spine and edges have been repaired. There are brown leather doublures. There are no endpapers.

Provenance

The volume was acquired by the National Library of Medicine after 1946; no further information is available on the provenance or when it came into the collections.

References

Unpublished. Not included in Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS.

NLM Microfilm Reel: FILM 55-42 no. 2