owing to the injuries which he had received from an accidental fall. His pupil Ibrahim went to Bagdad in his place.
It is known that George Bakhtichou personally took an active part in the work of translating Greek medical treatises into Arabic, but it has not yet been ascertained which books in particular were assigned to his care in the distribution of the different tasks. Ossaibiah, the Arabian historian, makes the statement that the work of translating Greek medical treatises was entirely under the control and guidance of George Bakhtichou; and in the "Continens" of Rhazes frequent mention is made of the latter's name. All of which confirms the belief that, at the beginning of the Arabic Renaissance, George Bakhtichou was in reality the head and front of the movement, so far at least as medicine was concerned. When he became too old and infirm to continue his attendance at the Djondisabour hospital, he intrusted the management of that institution to Issa ben Thaherbakht, who was one of his best pupils. He died in 771 A. D.
In 786 A. D., Haroun Alraschid succeeded to the caliphate; and not long afterward, on the occasion of some temporary illness, he requested Bakhtichou ben Djordis, the son of George and his successor in the work of translating from the Greek, to consult with the regularly appointed physicians of the Court in regard to the nature and proper treatment of his malady. The consultation took place at the appointed time, and one of the Caliph's physicians, thinking that he might catch Bakhtichou in a trap, submitted to him a specimen of urine which purported to come from the Caliph, but which in reality had been obtained from a beast of burden. Alraschid, who knew of the deception, asked:—
"What remedy would you administer to the person from whom this urine came?"
Bakhtichou, who had been clever enough to recognize the true character of the specimen, replied promptly: "Some oats, your Majesty."
The Caliph laughed heartily over the episode, loaded
