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Time to remember Avicenna for his contribution to pulsology
446
Letters to the Editor
Time to remember Avicenna for his contribution to pulsology Turgay Celik ⁎ Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology Etlik-Ankara, Turkey Received 17 March 2009; accepted 17 March 2009 Available online 5 April 2009
I somewhat halfheartedly read the recently published letter by Tellingen entitled ‘De pulsibus—or sense and simplicity in daily medical practice’ [1]. I strongly believe that Ibn Sina (Avicenna) deserves to be mentioned when it comes to the history of pulsology. Avicenna was a pioneer in pulsology and sphygmology [2]. In the words of Avicenna every beat of the pulse comprises two movements and two pauses. Thus, expansion: pause: contraction: pause. In ancient times, Galen as well as Chinese physicians erroneously believed that there was a unique type of pulse for every organ of the body and for every disease. Galen also erroneously believed that “every part of an artery pulsates simultaneously” and that the motion of the pulse was due to natural motions (the arteries expanding and contracting naturally) as opposed to forced motions of the heart. The first correct explanation of pulsation was given by Avicenna, after he refined Galen's theory of the pulse and discovered the following in Qanun (The Canon of Medicine): Avicenna also pioneered the modern approach of examining the pulse through the examination of the wrist which is still practiced in the current time. His reasons for choosing the wrist as the ideal location is due to it being easily available and the patient not needing to be distressed at the exposure of his/her body. The Latin translation of his Canon also laid the foundations for the later invention of the sphygmograph. Avicenna also wrote a treatise on diagnosing diseases ⁎ Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Gulhane School of Medicine, 06018 Etlik-Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 3044268; fax: +90 312 3044250. E-mail address: [email protected].
0167-5273/$ - see front matter © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.03.082
using only the methods of feeling the pulse and observing inhalation. He was often capable of finding the symptoms of certain diseases only by feeling a patient's pulse. Avicenna dedicated a chapter of the Canon to blood pressure [3]. He was able to discover the causes of bleeding and heamorrhage, and discovered that heamorrhage could be induced by high blood pressure because of higher levels of cholesterol in the blood. In conclusion, in the words of Dr. William Osler, the Qanun has remained “a medical bible for a longer time than any other work”. Despite such glorious tributes to his work, Avicenna is rarely remembered in the West today and his fundamental contributions to Medicine go largely unrecognised. The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology [4].
References [1] van Tellingen C. De pulsibus—or sense and simplicity in daily medical practice. Int J Cardiol 2010;142:201–6. [2] Martin MA. In: Hayes JR, editor. The genius of Arab civilisation. 2nd edition. London: Eurabia Puplishing; 1983. p. 196–7. [3] Avicenna, Sphygmology. In: Gruner CO, editor. A treatise on The Canon of Medicine of Avicenna. London: Luzac & Co.; 1930. p. 283–322. [4] Coats AJ. Ethical authorship and publishing. Int J Cardiol 2009;131:149–50.
Letters to the Editor
Time to remember Avicenna for his contribution to pulsology Turgay Celik ⁎ Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology Etlik-Ankara, Turkey Received 17 March 2009; accepted 17 March 2009 Available online 5 April 2009
I somewhat halfheartedly read the recently published letter by Tellingen entitled ‘De pulsibus—or sense and simplicity in daily medical practice’ [1]. I strongly believe that Ibn Sina (Avicenna) deserves to be mentioned when it comes to the history of pulsology. Avicenna was a pioneer in pulsology and sphygmology [2]. In the words of Avicenna every beat of the pulse comprises two movements and two pauses. Thus, expansion: pause: contraction: pause. In ancient times, Galen as well as Chinese physicians erroneously believed that there was a unique type of pulse for every organ of the body and for every disease. Galen also erroneously believed that “every part of an artery pulsates simultaneously” and that the motion of the pulse was due to natural motions (the arteries expanding and contracting naturally) as opposed to forced motions of the heart. The first correct explanation of pulsation was given by Avicenna, after he refined Galen's theory of the pulse and discovered the following in Qanun (The Canon of Medicine): Avicenna also pioneered the modern approach of examining the pulse through the examination of the wrist which is still practiced in the current time. His reasons for choosing the wrist as the ideal location is due to it being easily available and the patient not needing to be distressed at the exposure of his/her body. The Latin translation of his Canon also laid the foundations for the later invention of the sphygmograph. Avicenna also wrote a treatise on diagnosing diseases ⁎ Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Gulhane School of Medicine, 06018 Etlik-Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 3044268; fax: +90 312 3044250. E-mail address: [email protected].
0167-5273/$ - see front matter © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.03.082
using only the methods of feeling the pulse and observing inhalation. He was often capable of finding the symptoms of certain diseases only by feeling a patient's pulse. Avicenna dedicated a chapter of the Canon to blood pressure [3]. He was able to discover the causes of bleeding and heamorrhage, and discovered that heamorrhage could be induced by high blood pressure because of higher levels of cholesterol in the blood. In conclusion, in the words of Dr. William Osler, the Qanun has remained “a medical bible for a longer time than any other work”. Despite such glorious tributes to his work, Avicenna is rarely remembered in the West today and his fundamental contributions to Medicine go largely unrecognised. The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology [4].
References [1] van Tellingen C. De pulsibus—or sense and simplicity in daily medical practice. Int J Cardiol 2010;142:201–6. [2] Martin MA. In: Hayes JR, editor. The genius of Arab civilisation. 2nd edition. London: Eurabia Puplishing; 1983. p. 196–7. [3] Avicenna, Sphygmology. In: Gruner CO, editor. A treatise on The Canon of Medicine of Avicenna. London: Luzac & Co.; 1930. p. 283–322. [4] Coats AJ. Ethical authorship and publishing. Int J Cardiol 2009;131:149–50.