Catalogue: Pharmaceutics
-
Majma‘ al-javāmi‘ va-zakhā’ir al-tarākīb
(MS P 11.1) - (The Assemblage of Generalities and Treasuries of Compounds)
- مجمع الجوامع و ذخائر التراكيب
- by Muḥammad Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad Hādī al-‘Aqīlī al-‘Alavī al-Khurasānī al-Shīrāzī, known as Hakīm Muḥammad Hādīkhān (fl. 1771-81)
- محمد حسين ابن محمد هادي العقيلى العلوى الخراسانى الشيرازى الشهير بحكيم محمد هاديكان
Muḥammad Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad Hādī, known as Hakīm Muḥammad Hādīkhān, worked possibly in India and composed several Persian medical tracts, the most popular being a compendia on simple and compound remedies: Majma‘ al-javami‘ va-zakha'ir al-tarakib, which he composed in 1771/1185. It was based largely upon a treatise titled Jami‘ al-javāmi‘ by his great-uncle ‘Alavī Khān. For the latter treatise, and the dependence of Muḥammad Hādīkhān upon the writings of his great-uncle, see the entry for NLM MS P 12.
The Majma‘ al-javāmi‘ va-zakhā’ir al-tarākīb is divided into an introduction (muqaddimah), twenty chapters (fasls) and a conclusion (khatimah). The introduction and the twenty chapters are concerned for the most part with weights and measures and the production and preservation of medicaments, both simple and compound. The conclusion concerns new drugs introduced from Europe and the New World.
For other copies and lithographed printings, see Storey PL II,2, pp. 280-3 no. 492; Keshavarz, "Wellcome", pp. 281-2 no. 136.
Majma‘ al-javāmi‘ va-zakhā’ir al-tarākīb (MS P 11.1)
Illustrations
A sample page from the Persian medical compendium Majma‘ al-javāmi‘ va-zakhā’ir al-tarākīb (The Assemblage of Generalities and Treasuries of Compounds) written in 1771 (1185 H) by Muḥammad Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad Hādī, known as Hakīm Muḥammad Hādīkhān. The undated copy was probably made in the 19th century.
Physical Description
Persian. 394 leaves (fols. 1b-394b). Dimensions 27.9 x 16.4 (text area 19.5 x 10.8) cm; 21 lines per page. The title Majma‘ al-javāmi‘ va-zakhā’ir al-tarākīb is taken from the text (fol. 2a, line 13). The authorship statement is given on fol. 1b, lines 8-9: Ibn Muḥammad Hādī al-‘Aqīlī al-‘Alavī al-Khurasānī al-Shīrāzī known as (al-shahīr bi-) Hakīm Muḥammad Hādīkhān, Muḥammad Ḥusayn.
The copy is undated and unsigned. The appearance of the paper, ink, and script suggest a 19th-century date.
The complete copy is written in a small, compact ta‘liq tending towards naskh script. It is written in black ink with headings in red and some red overlinings. There are catchwords.
There are tables on folios 4b and 14a.
The biscuit, thin, glossy paper has visible laid lines but no chain lines. It is severely worm-eaten with some damp staining. Most folios have been recently repaired and restored. Folios 1 and 2 are guarded.
The volume consists of 396 leaves. Folios 1a and 395-396 are blank.
Binding
The covers of the maroon leather binding have stamped medallions and two pendants within a frame having decorative corners, inlaid with paper and stamped with a floral pattern. The inlaid paper on the covers, where worn, shows traces of English-language newspaper type. The spine has been restored in maroon leather. There are modern endpapers and pastedowns.
Provenance
No information is available on provenance or when came into the collections of NLM. It was in the Armed Forces Library by 1955. It was not included in the Schullian/Sommer catalogue.
References
Unpublished. Not in Schullian/Sommer, Cat. of incun. & MSS.
NLM Microfilm Reel: FILM 55-41 no. 1
