title: Ibn Abi al-Ashʿath
text: # Ibn Abi al-Ashʿath
  
  Ibn Abi al-Ashʿath (Arabic: أحمد بن محمد بن محمد بن أبي الأشعث; died 975 CE) was a Persian physician of medieval Islam. He wrote many commentaries on Galen's works.
  
  He died in Mosul, Iraq.
  
  ## Physiology
  
  Ahmad ibn Abi al-Ash'ath described the physiology of the stomach in a live lion in his book al-Quadi wa al-muqtadi. He wrote:
  
     When food enters the stomach, especially when it is plentiful, the stomach dilates and its layers get stretched...onlookers thought the stomach was rather small, so I proceeded to pour jug after jug in its throat…the inner layer of the distended stomach became as smooth as the external peritoneal layer. I then cut open the stomach and let the water out. The stomach shrank and I could see the pylorus…
  
  Ahmad ibn Abi al-Ash'ath observed the physiology of the stomach in a live lion in 959. This description preceded William Beaumont by almost 900 years, making Ahmad ibn al-Ash'ath the first person to initiate experimental events in gastric physiology.
  
  ## Works
  
  His works include:
  
  * الأدوية المفردة
  * الحيوان
  * العلم الالهي
  * الجدري و الحصبة و الحميقاء
  * الرسام و البرسام و مداواتهما
  * القولونج و أسبابه و مداواته
  * البرص و البهق
  * الصريح
  * الاستسقاء
  * ظهور الدم
  * الماليخوليا
  * تركيب الأدوية
  * أمراض المعدة و مداواتها
  