to this result, viz.: the decadence of the caliphate and the fact that the caliphs themselves appeared to lose their interest in promoting the sciences actively. It was not until during the tenth century that any further interest in the advancement of medical science was taken by those in authority at Bagdad. Then the Emir Adhad Eddoula built a splendid hospital, and organized it on the basis of several separate services—one for fever cases, another for accidental injuries, a third for ophthalmic cases, and so on. Twenty-four physicians, who had been selected because of their special aptitude for some particular class of medical work, were appointed to take charge of the different services; and it is interesting to note that nearly all of these men bear Arab names. Nevertheless, for a still further period of many years, says Le Clerc, there continued to be as many Christian as Mohammedan physicians in Bagdad.
In the tenth century other hospitals were established in Bagdad. Thus, in 914 A. D., the Vizir Ali ben Issa founded one which he endowed in the most liberal manner. This Vizir must have been a most humane person, for, when the physician-in-charge wrote to him for further instructions regarding the course which he should pursue with respect to people of different religions, the Vizir replied: "Use the fund for the benefit of all classes alike, and be sure to remember the animals."
Persia.—Rhazes, whose full name is Abou Beer Mohammed ben Zakarya, is generally admitted to have been the most illustrious of Persia's physicians, and probably the most distinguished representative of Arab medical learning. He was born at Raj, in the Province of Khorassan, about 850 A. D. After he had received his professional training at Bagdad, he settled at Raj and was soon afterward appointed director of the local hospital. At a later date he was placed in charge of the hospital at Bagdad, but before many months had elapsed he returned to Raj, his native town, and here he spent most of the remaining years of his long life. The date of his death is stated by Haeser as either 923 or 932 A. D., but Le Clerc mentions only the latter date.
