Hebrew Manuscripts : Kitab al-lamha

Abu Sa'd ibn Abi al-Surur al-Isra'ili

Hebrew Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Book on medicine in Judeo-Arabic, entitled Book of Light (Kitab al-lamha). This is probably the Kitab al-lamha al-'afifa fi'l-tibb (كتاب اللمحة العفيفة في الطب) by the thirteenth-century Cairene physician Abu Sa'd ibn Abi al-Surur al-Isra'ili (cf. the marginal note on folio <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(219);return false;'>106a</a>). This work might be a commentary on Ibn Sina's Qanun. The work contains a treatment of so-called topical diseases, that is, diseases specific to a certain part of the body. It starts with headaches (צדאע) and ends with emaciation (הזאל). Incomplete at the beginning (one folio missing). For basic information about the author see the bibliography. Emilie Savage-Smith, who describes a manuscript with a commentary on the Kitab al-Lamhah al-'afifah, refers to the author as al-Sawi, whereas Sotheby's lot description mentions al-Samri.</p>