Abstract
MR. HOLMYARD in the introduction to his book remarks justly that “the investigation of the original sources of Arabic chemistry has scarcely yet been attempted.” The most important work was that of Berthelot, yet owing to the limited range of works studied, particularly in the case of Jabir ibn Hayyan, it is likely that some of the conclusions of the great French historian of chemistry may require modification. A reaction against the rather premature generalisations of Berthelot, which are most warmly supported by those who have no knowledge of the original sources, has undoubtedly set in, and the further investigation of Arabic sources by those competent to undertake the work will no doubt provide information of great interest to students of the history of chemistry.
Kitb al-ilm al-muktasab f zira'at adh-dhahab: Book of Knowledge acquired concerning the Cultivation of Gold.
By Abu'l-Qsim Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Irq. The Arabic text edited with a translation and introduction by E. J. Holmyard. Pp. iv + 62 + 53. (Paris: Paul Geuthner, 1923.) n.p.
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P., J. Kitb al-ilm al-muktasab f zira'at adh-dhahab: Book of Knowledge acquired concerning the Cultivation of Gold. Nature 114, 307 (1924). https://doi.org/10.1038/114307a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/114307a0