A review of Kuhin al-Attar’s book: Minhaj al-Dukkan

Background and purpose:

The first scientific works in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, were translated from Greek, Egyptian, and Syrian texts. In Abbasid period the scientists of the day, in addition to translating books, began writing books in medicine and pharmacology, extending the scope of this movement to the farthest regions of the Islamic Empire. Among these scientists, an Egyptian pharmacist, Abū al-Munā Dāwud ibn Abī Nasr al- Isrāīlī al-Haruni, known as Kuhin al-Attar, wrote a book on herbs and other kinds of drugs in 658 AH, titled "Minhaj al-Dukkan wa-Dustur al-A'yan fi A'mal wa Tarakib al-Adwiya al-Nafi'a li'l-Abdan". The Persian translation of the book was published under the title Sharbatkade Attar Haruni.
 
Methods and Materials:

The present study is based on a library method. First of all, it was necessary to review the history of medicine and pharmacy. Therefore, ancient resources were examined. Then, for more information about the life and works of Kuhin al-Attar, related Persian and Arabic keywords were searched in scientific databases such as SID, Magiran, Irandoc and some international scientific databases such as Scopus, and Google Scholar. Query results were extracted and used in writing the article.

The author's main goal in compiling this book was to provide the reader with a comprehensive book, encompassing all existing knowledge. That's why the book was structured in the form of a textbook. The second chapter of twenty-five chapters is the most extensive one, and deals with the method of preparation of 142 types of syrups, describing them in detail.  

The writer has introduced more a hundred useful ethical points, which can be considered as ethical codes for professional pharmacists. In addition to pharmacologists, the book can be of interest to writers, sociologists, and researchers working in the field of history of science.