Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XX pp. 141 to 150

MEDICINE UNDER THE ROYAL PATRONAGEOF ASAFIA KINGS

S. A. HUSSAIN-

ABSTRACT

This article is a translation work of some portion of Islami Tibb. written

by Rehber Farooqui. It deals with the state of medicine during the

reigns of the two kings of Nizam dynasty. viz . Nawab Afzeluddaula

Behadur and Nawab Mir Mehboob Ali Khan Behadur , the Fifth and the

Sixth Nizams respectively. In this period medical department along with

the other departments came into existence. The Unani medicine also

assumed a separate and distinct entity. It also gives the history of

Unani medical school and clinics started in the city of Hyderabad.

Short biographies of the eminent physicians flourished during the above

period. medical literary works done by them. the statements of these

Unani physicians submitted to the king on some important occasionsand the royal addresses in their reply have also been given here.

Patronage of Medicine by Afzeluddaula Behadur :In Ramazan 1L73 AH. (1858 AD.)

Afzeluddaula Behadur (Nizam the fifth)adorned the throne of Deccan and in1283 AH. (1863 A.D.) during hisreign, organization of the entireNizam's dominion took place and anumber of reforms were introducedand many departments were establi-shed. During the same period themedical. municipal and educationdepartments came into existence.

Hospitals and schools were openedin the districts also. A big hospital(Afzalgunj Hospital) was constructedin the city of Hyderabad in whichexcellent arrangements were madefor the stay and food for thepatients'. The following were thefamous Unani physicians during hisreign. Some of them had also began topractise allopathy and Unani medicineside by side.

Here we produce the Verbatim notification which was issuad prior to the inauguration of thishospital.

i. The hospital at Afzalgunj shall be inaugurated on next Monday at 80·Clock.

ii. Every sick person who is pauper. no matter to what religion or caste he belongs shall beentitled to eppear at 8 O'Clock for getting medical treatment and for taking madicine every dayexcept on Fridav. and he shall get medical advice and medicine. But it is necessary that thepatient should appear before 8 O·Clock.

"Research As s.istant (U) I.I.H.M. Hvder ab ad.

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1. Hakim Mohammed Ibrahimson of Maulana Outubuddin

He was a physician in governmentclinic and he had no -equal in iden-tifying raw drugs and preparingmedicines.

2. Hakim Shifaee KhanHis name was Mir Lutf-e-Ali and hewas the descendent of Shifaee Khanthe first. He used to treat the patientswith allopathic medicines also.

3. Hakim Nadir Ali :This physician held a seat in the royalcourt. The famous date indicatingverses, composed by HabeebullahZeka in his honour are:

O. Life destroyer physician Nadir AliHealth is always displeased with youyou did with AfzeluddaulaWhat did Ibn-e-Muljim with Ali

MurtuzaThis is the date of the event

Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist Mea, Vol. XX

when the physician is fool thepatient dies - 1285 AH.

4. Hakim Oemruddin5. Hakim Vajed Ali Khan Dehlevi6. Hakim Asif Ali Lukhnewi7. Hakim Vazir Mirza8. Hakim Mohammed Jefer Husain

Benaresi :According to Abdul Aleem NesrullahKhan, this physician was unparalleland he writes 'I am a witness to thefact that he had no equal in curingascitis .'

9. Hakim Mirza Ali Shah10. Hakim Mirza Ali

(Physician of Prison)11. Hakim Mohammed MirzaHe was an expert in the identificationof herbs.

12. Hakim Mohammed Vazir :He was a physician in GovernmentShifakhana (clinic). Abdul Als ern Nas-

iii. On behalf of the Govt . Hakim Mohammed Vaz eer has been appointed in the hospital with fullpower s and the above said person shall personally examine each and every patient and heshall direct the treatment to be given to the patients.

iv. Since the preparation of most of the medicines take some time patience is neces-arv.

V. It is also necessary for each and every patient to bring a.onq with him a neat and clean glassbottle or cup for taking medicines.

vi. If the case is so urgent that. the delay in t-e arinq is harmful to the paucnt. then such patientmay go to the hospital at any time. He shall get medicine at all times. But in case of otherpatients it is necessary that they should reach the hospital within the prescribed timings.

vii. Since medica' advice and medicines are given by the government the patient should not payany expenses for the treatrnent .

viii No medicine shall be purchased from the hospital.

ix. It is decided by the government that. some rooms should be provided in the hospital for ilperiod of few weeks so that the parienr may stay for treatment. When all the necessaryarrangements are made. rules shall be formed and issued in respect of the patients who mayoccupy and reside in the rooms. Dated 22 Rahiul Awal 1283 A_H. a notification in Urduwas also issued after some days of this (persian) one.

Medicine under Asafia Kings-Hussain

rullah Khan writes in his book 'TareekhDeccan' An Arab came to me and hiscompanion said to me that he yawnedand his mouth remained opened inthe same way. Therefore, I sent himto Hakim Mohammed Vazir. TheHakim treated him so well that hewas completely cured of the disease.

PROGRESS OF MEDICINE DURINGTHE REIGN OF NEWAB MIRMEHBOOB All KHAN BEHADUR

His Highness Asif Jah the SixthNewab Mir Mehboob Ali Khan ascen-ded the throne when he was an infantin 1285 A.H. (1868 A.D.). It is notpossible to write down fully the prog-ress of Unani medicine during hisreign. The popularity of his highnessand his patronage of learned andeminent persons had spread throughout lndia.

15th Tir 1300 Fasli (1889 A.D.)was the most auspicious day so faras Unani medicine is concernedbecause on that day a fundamentalwork was started i.e. the departmentof Unani medicine was established.During the ministership of late NewabAsman Jah Behadur and owing to hisgreat sympathy towards arts andsciences. the Unani medicine assumeda separate and distinct entity.

Three Unani Shifakhanas (Govtclinics) and one Unani medical schoolwere established along with thedepartment. The first Shifa khanawas called Seder Shifa Khana (Unani

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General Hospital) and the second andthird were called Shifa Khana HusainiAlam and Shifa Khana Beroon BeidaAmong the physicians Hakim AhmedSayeed was appointed as AfserulAtibba. Hakim Mirza Ishaq Ali andHakim Newab Mirza were appointedas physicians. The school was alsokept under the control of AfserulAtibba. The administration of thedepartment was kept under the super-vision of a special board which wascalled "Mejlis-e-Intezami Me tab-e-Unani". This board continued todischarge its duties till 1306 F.(1896A.D.) subsequently the govern-ment abolished the said board andthe management was handed over toto a 'Board of Directors'. This boardworked from 9th Khurdad 1306 F.(13 April 1896 AD) to 16 Mehr1306 F. (Aug. 1896 A.D.). Thereafterthe board submitted its resignationwhich was accepted. On account ofthis, there was no longer any inter-mediate authority between the gove-rnment and the Afserul Atibba andthe Afserul Atibba began directcorrespondence with the governmentand till that time the Shifa Khanas(Govt Clinics) were linked withSecretariate. Hakim Ahmed Sayeeddied on 18th Khurdad 1305 F.(1895 A.D.) and in his place Dr. &Hakim Mohibb-e-Husain FalesoofJung was appointed as the AfserulAtibba. On 6th Behman 1317 F.(1907 A D.) he too died and thenHakim Altaf Husain Hazeq Jung wasappointed as the Afserul Atibba inhis place.

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In the reign of the late King(Newab Afzeluddaula 8ehadur) only,the post of Nazir-ul-Atibba wascreated. In 1316 F. (1906 AD.) thedepartment of Unani medicine consis-ted of one Afserul Atibba. two physi-cians, six assistant physicians andone teacher of the school. The totalnumber of ministerial staff includingclerks and pharmacists was 39. Inthis way there were 49 people underthe control of the department. There-after Magzen-e-Advia (Godown) wasestablished under the control of thisdepartment in which one Daroga(incharge) and four employees wereappointed. At that time the annualexpenditure of the department wasabout Rs. 15,000/- or Rs. 20.000/-.

In 1308 F (1898 AD.) sevenlakhs people were treated by the Unanidispensaries in Hyderabad city andthe districts.

The Asif Jah VI celebrated his33rd birthday in 1316 AH. (1899 A.D.).Different groups of the subjectsincluding a group of Unani physicianssubmitted their statements out ofdevotion to the King. The King w.svery pleased on hearing the addressof this group. He not only admittedtheir services but also recited a royalpoem in praise of Unani medicine andits scholars which added immenselyto the honour and glory of the profe-ssion. This royal patronage deservesto be written in golden letters in theHistory of Unani medicine.

Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med, Vol. XX

The Nizam while addressingUnani physicians including all groupssays "I am very pleased to call youhere and receive your addresses. Ideemed it proper to receive theaddresses of the subjects i.e. all thethree groups of you at a time that is,members of city association, Unaniphysicians and the members of Muni-cipal Corporation of Hyderabad citybecause although your rights andduties are apparently different yetyour purpose is one. All of you havethe same aim that is cleanliness. Thecity association aims at good mannerand affability, the Unani physicianshave the aim of cleaning the humanbody from the impurities of diseasesand the members of the municipal cor-poration aim at cleaning the streets ofHyderabad city and supplying potablewater to the citizens. Thus, theattainment of your common goalresults in the welfare of my belovedsubjects. I therefore highly appreciateyour efforts and I had great satisfac-tion on hearing your addresses tolearn that you have succeeded in yourefforts to a certain extent and thatyou aspire to have full success inyour aims. I have entrusted to youthe protection of lives of my subjectsand I am sure that all of you are fullyaware of this trust and you will leaveno stone unturned in receiving mypleasure on attaining this goal. Tokeep the heart clean (whole hearted-ness) is more valuable than thecelebrated mirror of Alexender theGreat. Care of other's life is worthmore than ones own life.

Medicine under Asafia Kinqs-« Hussain

During my reign are presentexpert physicians, what bounty hasbeen bestowed on me by the Almightyhealing God.

Health is more valuable than anywealth in the world. Man will beseeking it through out his life.

Boqrat, Soqrat and Jalinoos aredead and gone. Now the presentphysicians are the loqman of theirtime. Only these people are theprotectors of life in this world. Nowor.lv these people are the Messiah onthis earth in the present times.

The humours are divided intofour on the basis of four elements.The physicians cure the patients bynormalising these four humours.

When the diseases opposing eachother occur in the body, these physi-cians cure the patient easily. Physi-cians fall ill while caring for the sick.They never have single moment ofcomfort till the patients are cured.

O'God, increase the number ofthe masters that are present here,they are efficient and expert Hakims.

O'God, it is the only prayer ofAsif to thee that my subjects mayalways live happily and merrily.

The following year in 1317 A.H.(1900 A.D.) when the birth day (ofNizam VI) was celebrated, the Unaniphysicians were once again given the

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honour of presenting an address toexhibit their life long devotion to theNizam. On this occasion the sameroyal favour was shown towardsthem. The speech of the King inspireda new life into the body of Unanimedical science.

"Heath is greatest wealth ofhuman being. For this, first of all werequire the grace of God. The physi-cians have to pay as much attentiontowards the patients and to diagnosecorrectly as it is necessary for patientsto abstain from easting unwholesomevictuals. It is bounden duty ofallopaths and Unani physicians totake care of the medicines. Twothings do not return when they aregone: one is life and the other ishonour. I f we have our life, we havethe entire world and if we havehonour, we have life. The wise mentake great care of these two, throughout thier lives. I am also greatlypleased to hear that you have adopteda very good method of progressing inyour art and that you have commemo-rated my birthday by means of it.Your medical journal is a journalthrough which you cannot onlyconvey your achievements to eachother, you can aIso tra in the thoug htsof the public in general in accordancewith your ideas. I highly appreciatethe fact that, you are publishing thesaid journal in both English and Urdu.By this, we can expect that the twoschools of medicine, oriental andwestern will co-mingle in such a way

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that the virtues and vices of eachshcool will be disclosed to each otherand the main stream of this sciencewill progress and in fact such progressin your science is a progress towardsthe welfare of the public in generalwhich I appreciate from the depths ofmy heart.

I highly appreciate such effortson your part and assure my pleasurefor you as much as you continue tosympathise with the miseries andhardships of my beloved subjects andtry to ameliorate their condition endyou are busy in protecting their health.I pray to the Almighty that by hisgrace he may always grant yousuccess in your efforts of good wilt.

After this he also recited a pieceof poetry.

•. I express my thanks to Allahbecause I receive news about thehealth of my subjects trom every-where.

They are busy in performingduties day and night. The Unaniphysicians who are skillful in their artand the allopaths who are perfect intheir science.

I have heard that it is a principleof medicine that the prescriptionshould have single drug or no matterit comprises a few ingredients.

Medicine is as useful in curingthe disease as prayer serves like a

Bul!. Ind. tnst, Hist. Med. Vol. XX

shield against the sword of death.

Man should not be proud of hisperfection no matter how expert orexperienced he may be.

The science of medicine dependsupon guess but it requires correctperception. Of course it is naturalthe physicians sometimes fail in theirdiagnosis.

Audience should know that Asifbelieves that only God cures us;of ourdiseases, therefore we should look tohim for our recovery."

The eminent physicians, flourishedduring the reign of this king are as1. Hakim Iftikhar Ali Khan:He was born in 1247 AH. (1831 A.D.)His father's name was Hakim MirInayet Ali Khan. He was one of thefamily member of Shifaeekhan. Hewas appointed in Unani Medicaldepartment on a salary' of Rs. 200/-per month. He left three treatises ashis keepsake.1. Feehi Shifa un Lin Nas (Printed).2. Madda tul Hayat-For the treat-

ment of children and pregnantwomen.

3. Guldesta-e-Sehhat-on Six essen-tial factors.

2. Hakim Ruknuddin Ahmed:He was born in Lohara Village, Owsataluq, Osmanabad district in 1281A H. (1865 AD.). He had alsoacquired experience in allopathy. Hewas an eminent scholar. He joined

Medicine under Asafia Kings-Hussain

service in Unani medical departmentin 1308 A.H. (1891 AD.)

3. Hakim Syed Rafiuddin :He was an inhabitant of Aurangabad.At first he studied allopathy ongovernment scholarship in 1278 A.H.(1862 A.D.) in the days of Dr.Window. He was appointed on thepost of first assistant in Sedar ShifaKhana (Unani General hospital) on asalary of Hs, 200/- per month. Hewas also appointed at the royalpalace. He worked temporarily asAfserul Atibba also.

4. Hakim Ashiq Husain Khan,Hyderabadi :

He was the younger brother of HakimIftikhar Ali Khan. He was born in1275AH.(1859 AD.). He was apenman, and wrote two books-1. Farog-e-Atibba (in verse) 2. Tirvaq-e-Semoom.

5. Hakim Altaf Husain Khan:He was the son of Hakim Mir InayatAli Khan and the younger brother ofHakim Iftikhar Husain Khan & HakimKhursheed Ali Khan Shafi NewazJung. He was born in 1269 A. H.(1853 A.D.). In tho beginning hewas appointed as assistant to HakimMohibb-e-Husain on a salary ofRs. 200/- per month. Later he wasappointed as Afserul Atibba. Thetitles of Iftikharul Hukema and HazeqJung were conferred upon him by thecourt of Nizam. At present his eldestson Maulvi Hakim Syed Serferaz

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Husain Khan is serving the publicas Superintendent of Unani clinic,Husaini Alem.

6. Hakim Abdul Aziz Khan:He was born in 1250A.H.(1834 A.D.)in Arcot a village of Madras. In1281 AH. (1865 A.D.) he came toHyderabad during the reign ofAfzeluddaula Behadur and in 1304A.H. (1888 A.D.) he came to the courtof Late Nizam VI and was appointedas physician to the king. In 1316A.H. (1899 A.D.) the title of Tabeeb-e-Khas (Royal physician) was alsobestowed upon him. He was granteda salary of Rs. 600/- per month fromroyal palace in 1306AH.(1889A.D.).

7. Hakim Mohammed AliHyderabadi :

He was born in village, lbr ahirnpat-nam in 1270 A.H. (1854 AD.). Hetreated one of the maids of the Nizammiraculously. Her name was MamaLalen, who was suffering fromunconsciousness. The people deemedher to be dead and were makingpreparations for her funeral. But thesaid Hakim treated her so efficientlythat, she became conscious andrecovered fully.

Another episode about his treat-ment has also became famous. It iswritten that, when Newab Yousuf AJiKhan, the Salsr Jung Behadur-I, wasin the womb of his mother all themidwives after examination had toldthat is was not pregnancy but a kind

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of tumour which would prove to beinjurious in future, which causedapprehension. But, this Hakim exa-mined her, diagnosed it as pregnancyand continued to treat her. After thetime prescribed by him. she gave birthto a son.'

8. Hakim Mohammed Amanet Ali:He was one of the most famousphysicians of Hyderabad. Originallyhis ancestor Mohammed Ali had comefrom Delhi to Hyderabad by the orderof Sultan Ibrahim Outub Shah andwas appointed as the physician ofRoyal palace. Hakim MohammedAmanet Ali was born in 1280 A H.(1864 AD.). He learnt allopathyalong with Unani medicine. Thefame of his treatment spread throughout the city and he was appointed asthe physician of royal palaces. Hiseldest son Hakim Mehmood Ali hasgained similar name and fame,working as assistant physician inSeder Shifa Khana - Unani GeneralHospital.

9. Hakim & DoctorMohibb-e-Husain :

He was granted the title of FailesoofJung by the royal court. He wasappointed as Afserul Atibba after Hk.Ahmed Sayeed. He was a learnedman and had a great experiencein medicine. He had a valuablelibrary which had no parallel to it atthat time. It was purchased for Asifia

Bull. Ind. lnst, Hist. Med, Vol. XX

Kutub Khana (State Central Library)after his death.

One of his sons, Ali Hussain isworking as; Superintendent ShifaKhana, Heri Baoli (Govt. Clinic).

10. Hakim Shamsudin KhanBehadur:

He was the son of the author of thebook 'Tareekh-e-Khursheed .Jahi'.During the viceegerency of Umdetulmulk he joined the royal staff. In1293 A.H. (1877 AD.) he attendedthe English emperor's court alongwith the Nizam. He was acquaintedwith allopathic medicine also. In1302 A.H. (1886 A.D.) at the time ofcelebration of the kinq's birthday thetitles of Khan and Shemsul Hukemawere conferred upon him. He diedin 1320 A.H. (1904 AD.).

11. Shifaul Mulk Shifaee KhanBehadur :

He was the maternal grand son ofShifaee Khan I. The Nizam conferredon him the titles of his maternalgrandfather i.e. Shifa Jung, Shifa-ud-Daula, Shifaul Mulk, Shifaee KhanBehadur and appointed him as theSuperintendent of the clinic of royalpalace. He was conferred the title of'Khan Behadur' on 1308 AH. (1892AD.) the title 'Daula' in 1312 AH.(1896 AD.) and the title 'Mulk' in1323 A.H. (1907 A.D.)

Tuzek-e-Mehboobia vol. 2, chapter 6 of physicians, page 25,

Medicine under Asafia Kings-Hussain

12. Hakim Syed Abdul WahhabAnsari:

He was famous in Hyderabad by thename of Hakim Nabina. He wasexpert in pulse reading. His remediesare still remembered in Hyderabad.He had gained the fame during theperiod of Nizam VI. Thereafter heleft Hyderabad.

13. Hakim Khurshed Ali Khan:

He was the brother of Hakim HazeqJung Behadur, Afserul Atibba. He wasconferred the titles of KhursheedulHukema and Shafee Newaz Jung bythe Nizam. He was the Superinten-dent of Shifa Khana, Hussaini Alam.

14. Hakim Rukna :

He had no parallel in 'Misri'l treatmentand gained very good name

15. Hakim Mohammed MansoorAli Khan Muradabadi :

He was a great scholar and God

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fearing man. He was the HeadMaster of Medarsa Tibabet (UnaniMedical School) Govt. of Hyderabad.The great Aristocrates were fond ofmeeting him. But he was so selflessand God fearing that he never caredthe pomp and power of any grandee.By his teaching he made thousandsof his students eminent scholars inHyderabad. He wrote a number ofbooks, out of which some bookshave been published. Maqsood AliKhan is his worthy son who not onlyenriched his ancestral learning butalso gifted with administrativecapacity. Thus at the time of hisappointment on the post of AfserulAtibba (Chief Physician), Nizam VIIissued his firm an in the followingwords. I hope, by the appointmentof Hakim Maqssod Ali Khan, reformswill be made in the department verysoon, since he has administrativecapacity by nature.

1. Ayurvedic method of treatment. The word Mis,i has already been discussed in theBulletin IIHM Vol. XIV. page 42.

150 Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XX

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