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Lot Essay
The Syrian physician Ibn al-Nafis, better known in the Arabic literature by his nisbah al-Qarshi, was an authority on religious law, logic, and theology, as well as a prolific writer of medical tracts. Originally from Damascus, he spent much of his life in Cairo, where he became "Chief of Physicians". See Emily Savage-Smith, Ibn al-Nafis (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/arabic/bioI.html).
His most important work, the Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna’s Canon included his ground-breaking views on the pulmonary circulation and heart. He also worked on an enormous textbook, The Comprehensive Book of Medicine (al-Shamil fi al-tibb). This was never completed but was the largest medical encyclopedia to be attempted at the time and is still consulted by scholars (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18845773).
His most important work, the Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna’s Canon included his ground-breaking views on the pulmonary circulation and heart. He also worked on an enormous textbook, The Comprehensive Book of Medicine (al-Shamil fi al-tibb). This was never completed but was the largest medical encyclopedia to be attempted at the time and is still consulted by scholars (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18845773).