Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya Razi (
Zakaria-ye Razi Persian ?????? ????), known as
Rhazes or
Rasis after medieval
Latinists, (
August 26 865,
Rayy—&_160;925,
Rayy) was a
Persian[2][3] alchemist, chemist,
physician,
philosopher and
scholar. He is recognised as a
polymath[4] and often referred as "probably the greatest and most original of all the Muslim physicians, and one of the most prolific as an author"
[5].
He made fundamental and enduring contributions to the fields of medicine, alchemy, music, and philosophy, recorded in over 184 books and articles in various fields of science. He was well-versed in Persian, Greek and Indian medical knowledge and made numerous advances in medicine through own observations and discoveries.[6]
Well educated in music, mathematics, philosophy, and metaphysics, he finally chose medicine as his professional field. As a physician, he was an early proponent of experimental medicine and is considered the father of pediatrics.[7] He was also a pioneer of neurosurgery and ophthalmology.[8] He was among the first to use Humoralism to distinguish one contagious disease from another. In particular, Razi was the first physician to distinguish smallpox and measles through his clinical characterization of the two diseases. And as an alchemist, Rhazes is known for his study of sulfuric acid and for his discovery of ethanol and its refinement to use in medicine. He became chief physician of Rayy and Baghdad hospitals.
Rhazes was a rationalist and very confident in the power of ratiocination; he was widely regarded by his contemporaries and biographers as liberal and free from any kind of prejudice and very bold and daring in expressing his ideas without a qualm.
