Toddler Travel » infant travel

can an infant travel in the mothers passport?

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:11:20 +0000

in the mother;s passport any things is given to add or just u can carry the infant directly ?? can any 1 help in the rules n conditions of carryin an infant in mothers passport ?? what needs to be done etc etc please wil be great help?

No. They need their own passport. There are special rules for signing their name also.

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can a infant travel abroud without his mother?

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:38:28 +0000

My sister and her baby got Philippine passport….now she’s in malaysia with the baby. The father of her baby is Malaysian but they are not married…Now the father want to travel with his son without the mother. Are the immigration of MalAysia will allow them to travel without the mother?

Unless the Malaysians have a very strange law with regards to this, then yes. Generally speaking an infant can travel with any adult – a grandparent, older sibling, etc.

The only thing that would usually change that would be a court order / injunction.

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Is it a good idea to travel on a red eye flight with infant baby?

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:54:30 +0000

I need to travel cross country on an airplane with a 11 month old baby and I was wondering if it is a good idea to travel on a red eye airplane flight with infant baby? The thought is that she would be sleepy when we got on the plane and hopefully would sleep thru the flight. Has anyone done this before or have seen it themselves when they traveled on a red eye?

Our observations and experiences are that actually babies sleep more on red-eye flights (and therefore are quieter–for which we are very grateful!) than on daytime flights. Maybe because its dark?

The main thing is to remember that infants sleep over 60% of the time anyway, so their sleep won’t be as disrupted by a night flight as an adult or teen’s would be.

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How to Become English to Polish Translation Expert

admin — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:37:49 +0000

A good and accurate translation from one language to another, such as a Polish to English or English to Polish, can make the difference between winning and losing a contract. With Poland’s entrance in EU in May 2004, the doors of international business have opened with even more speed and more and more need of English to polish translators is felt. This is turning out to be a profitable business for people because of the immense quantity of work regularly. Normally, a good English to polish translator charges around 0.06 $ to 0.016 $ /per word which is good enough to make a handsome living.

More and more of native English speakers are learning polish nowadays and turning into English to polish translators. Polish language can be bit hard to understand for the people who are getting familiar to it for first time. Polish pronunciation and the various endings of words found in Polish grammar represent a marked departure for those who are familiar with Western European languages. Even though it is hard to attain proficiency in polish language still it is not impossible. It can truly be an enjoyable learning experience. Much of this depends on the teaching methods and language instructors. This article discusses various ways to become English to Polish translation Expert

Polish Language Institutes:

There are various colleges and private institutes that offer English to Polish translation courses. You can carry out a search on the Internet to find out which places close to you offer such courses. Professional Instructors can guide you about Polish words pronunciations. Polish Language Services is a Polish only language training company which offers three distinct immersion-style training services designed specifically for clients who need to achieve Polish Language proficiency in a limited time.

There are programs which involve one-on-one conversation based sessions which, combined with real-world materials, allow the person to achieve maximum proficiency results in minimum time. These schools offer intensive in-class instructions accompanied with optional U.S. “Mini Immersion” and In Country (Poland) “Full Immersion” trainings as detailed later. Each training package is custom tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of the individual student.

These schools focus exclusively on the Polish language allowing students to develop a specific immersion-style strategy for teaching this complex language. Usually their instructors are native Polish speakers with graduate degrees and experience in teaching polish as a foreign language in a professional environment. They are highly motivated and happy to share part of themselves with our clients. Their deep interest, strong ties and frequent travel to Poland enables them to keep up-to-date with current trends.
Besides teaching the language, the syllabus incorporates adaptation training that examines lifestyle differences for easing the transition to living and working in Poland. The classrooms are designed to simulate the Polish environment and give the student a feel of Poland. Everything in the classroom environment is Polish (entrance/exit signs, maps, pictures, calendars, etc.). We have a large library of Polish books, games, audio and video materials which helps to add variety to our teaching.

Training Methodology

Polish Language Services delivers full-time, one-on-one Polish instruction with a minimum of English allowed only during the breaks. From the moment the student enters the classroom, they are spoken to ONLY in Polish. Special emphasis is laid in student’s ability to begin speaking Polish as quickly as possible. Students learn Polish by using it during the class. They are not required to memorize the very difficult Polish grammar rules, rather, they learn it by examples. The goal is to make our students think in Polish because this is the milestone in achieving language proficiency. Training sessions are strategically developed to iteratively build the student’s vocabulary by exposing them to increasingly more complex conversational building blocks. Thus, the students slowly build conversational skills with each passing week just as an infant does when learning to speak for the first time.

Adelajda Rymut

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Ups Reliability Measures

admin — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:30:31 +0000

The criticality for which uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) were created means that their reliability requires some form of measure to give customers a means of comparing different manufacturers and UPS. The purpose being to shield the loads the UPS is protecting from vulnerability, therefore, reliability should not be guessed at.

Mean Time Between Failure

MTBF or Mean Time Between Failure is one such measure – an indicator of the reliability of an uninterruptible power supply. It is the average operational time between powering up and system shutdown due to failure (not power failure in this sense but failure of the UPS system itself). It is represented by a measurement of hours.

Average failure rate is another measure of reliability. This is the total number of failures in a given time period. The failure rate over the lifetime of any UPS system, therefore, is inversely proportionate to its MTBF.

Uninterruptible power supplies are no different to any other electronic equipment in that the rate at which they fail is not constant. There are three distinct periods associated with UPS failure (which are often represented by a bathtub curve diagram showing a) infant mortality failures, b) random failures and c) wear out failures).

Infant Mortality UPS Failures

Infant mortality failures correspond to failures early on the life of the uninterruptible power supply. IT-sized uninterruptible power supplies can suffer what is termed ‘dead-on-arrival’. This could be due to a component manufacturing defect or transportation damage. A sudden shock or jolt in transportation may weaken a soldered joint, for example. Whilst UPS manufacturers strive to reduce these incidents as much as possible through stringent quality checks and testing processes, they do happen. Various processes can be applied to minimise the chances of it happening. UPS from 10kVA, for example, can be run for short burn-in periods (up to 48 hours) at high ambient temperature to reduce the potential for such failures.

Random UPS Failures

Random failures happen less often. During the normal working life of a UPS, the rate of these is low and fairly constant.

Wear Out Failures

Wear out failures at the end of an uninterruptible power supply’s working life are more common (and this is where the curves is steeper). Here, battery problems account for 98 percent of UPS wear out failures. Particularly where uninterruptible power supply has been subjected to high ambient temperatures over long periods, internal cabling insulation becomes brittle and breaks down. There are other consumable items that should be part of a regular monitoring regime, such as fans and capacitors, which will also eventually wear out with use.

Just because a manufacturer shows you some favourable MTBF stats does not necessarily mean that their products are the most reliable. Like most things, these can be massaged into looking more relaxed than they actually are. The important question to ask is: what was the basis for their calculation? There are two primary approaches:

1) A record of the total number of failures for a particular UPS size over a given time period.

Commonly adopted by UPS manufacturers, this is a valuable approach if the field population is large and the time period long enough (more than the typical life expectancy of a UPS, which is five to ten years).

2) A system value calculated from the known MTBF values of components and assemblies.

Obviously, this approach is more complex and relies on following standardised calculation formats.

Mean Time to Repair

Mean Time to Repair (Mean Time to Restore) is the time taken to return an uninterruptible power supply to normal operation from shutdown.

Online UPS are designed to fail safely to mains; therefore, the MTBF calculation of the mains power supply is also an important consideration along with mean time to repair (or average repair time).

As it is highly unlikely for a service engineer to be onsite at the very moment a UPS fails, MTTR needs also to include a travel time element. This also assumes the service engineer is carrying the required parts needed to fix the problem in a single visit, which is sometimes not the case. Uninterruptible power supply manufacturers may only provide a figure based on the actual repair time. Although this may be a satisfactory comparison tool, it is not a true representation of reliability. A degree of scepticism is sometimes necessary when comparing marketing data from some manufacturers.

Robin Koffler
http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/ups-reliability-measures-675161.html

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The Gentle Giants – Mountain Gorillas of Congo May Perish by the Rebel Activity

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:13:30 +0000

Violence in eastern Congo by the rebel leader Nkunda is threatening the existence of mountain gorillas in Congo Virunga national park. Fighting intensified in August 2008, when fighting heated up between the army and fighters loyal to Nkunda. More than 250,000 people have been driven from their homes in the violence and some 17,000 U.N. peacekeepers have not been able to quell the chaos.

Nkunda the leader of an ethnic Tutsi, says his rebels are fighting to protect Congo’s minority Tutsis from the Hutu militia that fled here after helping perpetrate the 1994 genocide that killed more than half a million Tutsis in Rwanda. But his critics contend he is more interested in power and Congo’s mineral wealth.

Some fear the current crisis could once again draw in neighboring countries. Congo’s devastating 1998-2002 war split the vast nation into rival fiefdoms and involved half a dozen African armies.

This fighting is taking place inside the Virunga national park where mountain gorillas find there home for years.

Gorillas, chimpanzees gorangutans and humans all belong to the order of primates. Human share 98.4% of their genetic material with gorillas and 98.8% with chimpanzees .Gorillas the largest of the great apes are divided into three subspecies that include the western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla graueri). The eastern and western lowland gorillas were identified for science in 1847 and 1877 respectively.

The third subspecies –the mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei),was identified for scientific purpose in the year 1903 and has gone on to become Uganda’s star attraction.

Mountain gorillas are physically distinct from lowland gorillas. They are larger have more hair a short truck a broad chest and shoulders and also have a longer and slightly different nose shape.

Mountains gorillas are born small covered with black hair and usually weigh about 2.3 kilogrammes. Gorillas develop about as twice as human babies with the mature female mother also undergoing a gestation period of nine months. They are unique species, as a gorilla with an infant may not have another baby for up to four years. Good family Planning.

Male and Female gorillas between the age of three ands six years are classed as juvenile. They increase in size and weight at similar rates for the first six years. On reaching six years most mountain gorillas weigh about 68 kg and are usually about four feet tall.

The female mountain gorillas stop growing taller at around six years where as the males continue growing both in size and weight till they reach the age of ten to eleven.

Between the ages of six and ten the males have a black hair colour and are thus referred to as the black backs. On reaching maturity, which is usually between 10 and 12 years they develop silverly, grey hairs on their backs there by being referred to as silver backs.

The silver backs usually leave their parental group at the age of 11 and then moves alone or in the company of other males for a few years before managing to attract females from other groups to him hence forming his own family. Silver back is a dominant male in a group of about 12 or more gorillas that usually include female juveniles and other infants. Will find them chewing leaves laughing and farting not only continuously but with a lot of contentment. They are diurnal and nomadic sleeping each night in a fresh nest built from leaves and branches. Mountain gorillas are primary vegetarian with menu comprising bamboo nettle and gallium being some of their favorites.

They occasionally also eat safari ants which are scooped in huge handful to stuff into the mouths until the safari ant bites over power them. Gorillas spend most of their time traveling and foraging in search of food since plants and trees change with seasons.

Gorillas communicate through vocalizations. Twenty-five district vocalizations have so far been recognized with each one having its own particular meaning As an element of their socialization they communicate through howls grunts barks and hoots screams and are hoots scream and roars signal alarm or warning and are often produced by silverbacks.

They also communicate by beating on their chests or on the ground. This is done to show stature prevent a fight or even scarce off opponents. However even the infant beat their chests as a kind of displacement activity during play perhaps just to copy their elders.

Mountain gorilla life is peaceful and quite .It is from this that they have come to be called Africa gentle giants. These gentle giants are found in the areas of park des Vulcan’s in Rwanda and Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo while in UgandaMgahinga Gorilla National park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. they are confined to

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park was gazetted in 1992 is situated in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley Albertine rift and is shared by Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro districts. It is 331 square km in size on an altitude range of 1,160metre Ishasha gorge to 2,607metres Rwamanyonyi peak.

In 1993 I was among the people who arranged the first clients to track gorillas. Working with one of the old tour companies before setting up Travel Hemispheres , arranged among the first clients to track gorillas in Bwindi national park. It was quite big fun and achievement at that time and ever since lots of clients have passed through my hands to track gorillas in Uganda , Bwindi and Congo. Thus the experience is enormous and can speak for its self. We at Travel Hemispheres have calculated experience and all our clients handled speak out towards this experience.

The total number of mountain gorillas in Bwindi is approximately 340 which is almost over half of the total estimated 720 left in the whole world. Gorilla tourism provides over 50% of tourism revenue for Uganda thus being a strong reason for its protection.

Currently the rebel insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo characterized by the massive movement of people in the region could be a danger to conservation of this precious resource.

Rangers have been murdered in the park camps and equipment for the park authorities have been robbed and destroyed. At this time the safety of these gentle giants –moreover our closest cousins life is at stake . Our appeal is to international bodies that may have solution to offer can do it at the earliest before we see them wiped out.

By Fred Bukenya and more his articles can be viewed at www.travelhemispheres.com

Fred
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/the-gentle-giants-mountain-gorillas-of-congo-may-perish-by-the-rebel-activity-733459.html

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The Modern Medical Science: a Journey Through History

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:14:56 +0000

The history of Medical Science is very interesting. Centuries before the advent of Islam the Arabs had their own system of medicine in the form of herbs and shrubs (‘Aqaqir wa’l Hashä’ish) which was based on Chaldean medicine and on their own experience. Their first physician was Luqmân and the second Khuzaim. Gradually, Greek medicine attracted their attention. Harith Ibn Kaldah was the first to introduce Greek medicine to the Arabs. After that some books began to be written on the subject. Tiazauq composed a few treatises on pharmacology, and Khalid Ibn Yazid Ibn Mu’awiyah got some Greek and Egyptian books translated into Arabic. This was the condition during the rule of Banu ‘Umayyah. But the science of medicine flourished during the reign of the ‘Abbasis.1
At first the Muslims made arrangements for the translation of Greek, Indian, Persian and Chaldean medical works into Arabic, and thus gained the knowledge of the medical systems of these nations. But they did not accept as such what these systems had offered. They made researches in various branches of the medical science, and accepted what was found to be useful. Besides, they made many valuable new discoveries in the theory and practice of medicine. Then, combining their discoveries and the material sorted out of these systems, they evolved an entirely new system of medicine. When the Europeans learnt this system from the Muslims, generally through the Arabic medical literature, they properly called it Arabian Medicine, acknowledging on the one hand their indebtedness to the Muslims, and on the other putting a seal of testimony to the gigantic and original contributions of the Muslim scientists to medicine. Since the medical knowledge was primarily borrowed from the Greeks, the new system was named by the Muslims of the South Asian Sub-Continent Tibb-e-Yunãni(Greek Medicine). This act gives a proof of the Muslim spirit of liberalism.
When the Muslim world was producing most distinguished medical theoreticians and practitioners in history, the state of medicine in Europe was very poor. The Muslims who came in touch with Frank physicians during the Crusades expressed much scorn for their ignorance and barbaric practices. Thabit, a Christian physician of the Syrian prince Usãmah, observed two cases (C. 1140) ending fatally on account of the barbarous surgery of a Frank. The study of Islamic medicine was made for centuries in all the Western countries, particularly in France, and the Arabic medical writings formed the core of the European medical literature. Until the 17th century these writings were included in the syllabi of the European universities. In France the Arabian Medicine was studied from 1410 to 1789. In Vienna in 1520, and, in Frankfurt on the Order in 1588, the medical curriculum was still largely based on Ibn Sinä’s ‘Qãnun’ and on the ninth book of al-Rãzi’s ‘Al-Mansuri.’ The introduction of this science into Europe is an interesting chapter of history.
According to Dr. Robert Briffault, an eminent western scholar, the Allopathic system of medicine is the outcome of Arabian Medicine. He remarks:
“The Pharmacopoeia created by the Arabs is virtually that which but for the recent synthetic and organotherapic preparations, is in use at the present day; our common drugs, such as Nux vomica, Senna, rhubarb, aconite, gentian, myrrh, calomel, and the structure of our prescriptions, belong to Arabic Medicine”
He also discloses that the medical schools of Montpellier, Padua and Pisa were founded on the pattern of that of Cordova under Jew doctors trained in Arab schools, and the Qãnün of Ibn Sina and the Surgery of Abu’l-Qasim al-Zahrawi, remained the text books of medical science throughout Europe until the seventeenth century.2
The Arabs had a fair knowledge of anatomy as it is obvious from the names of the internal and external organs of the human and animal bodies, found in the literature of the pre-Islamic Arabia. When they became acquainted with the Greek anatomical descriptions, they made investigations on them, pointed out many errors in the work of their predecessors, and made many fresh discoveries in this field. In order to verify the Greek anatomical ideas prevailing at that time Yuhanna Ibn Mäsawaih made dissection of the apes which were supplied to him by the order of the ‘Abbasi Caliph Mutasim Billah. After this verification he composed his work on anatomy. The works of some Muslim physicians and surgeons, like Tashrih al-Mansuri by Mansur Ibn Muhammad contain illustrations of human organs, which are not found in the Greek works. These illustrations also throw light on the Muslims’ practical knowledge of anatomy.3
In opposition to Galen who thought that the human skull consisted of seven bones, the Muslim scholars held that it had eight. They believed that there were ossicles in the ear, which facilitate the hearing capacity.4 The work of the Muslim physicians in the field of physiology, too, is quite valuable. For instance, Ibn Nafis al-Qarshi of Damascus explained the theory of the minor circulation of blood three centuries before William Harvey to whom this discovery is ascribed. Al-Qarshi also suggested that food is fuel for the maintenance of the body’s heat. Abu’l-Faraj held that there are canals in the nerves through which sensations and movements are transmitted.
The contributions of Muslims in the field of bacteriology are quite revolutionary. According to Browne, Muslims were fully aware of the theory of germs. Ibn Sinã was the first to state that bodily secretion is contaminated by foul foreign earthly bodies before getting the infection. Ibn Khätimah of the 14th century stated that man is surrounded by minute bodies which enter the human body and cause disease. In the same century when the great plague ravaged the world, and the chief causes of it, based on superstition, were said to be either the Jews or volcanic eruptions or the birth of a calf with two heads, two Muslim doctors, Ibn Khatib (1313-1374) and Ibn Khätimah (1323-1369), wrote on it treatises which were based on scientific observations.5
Some Muslims also gave new suggestions regarding the treatment of diseases. In this connection Abu’1 Hasan, the physician of Adud al-Daulah introduced the process of bleeding as a treatment of cerebral hemorrhage which is often due to blood pressure. Al-Razi suggested nourishing food for the treatment of general weakness. The Muslim physicians were the first to use the stomach tube for the performance of gastric lavage in the case of gas poisoning. They were fully aware of the principles of opotherapy centuries before Browne Sequard to whom this method of treatment is ascribed. Said Ibn Bishr Ibn ‘Abdus suggested light food and cold producing medicines for the treatment of general paralysis and facial paralysis. Ibn al-Wãfid gave emphasis upon the treatment of diseases through food control. They discovered the treatment for epidemic jaundice, and suggested a reasonable quantity of opium as a treatment of mania. For epistaxis they suggested the pouring of cold water on the head.6
The investigations of Muslim physicians on the causes, symptoms and effects of some diseases are highly remarkable. Al-Razi was he first physician to differentiate between smallpox and measles. His Greek, Indian and other predecessors were unable to differentiate between these two diseases. Abu’l-Hasan al-Tabari was the first to regard tuberculosis as an infiltration, and stated that it affects not only the lungs but also the other organs. The Bright’s disease, the discovery of which is ascribed to Dr. Richard Bright of the 18th century, was in fact discovered by Najib al-Din al-Samarqandi centuries before him.7
In the science of surgery, too, much advancement was made by Muslims. They introduced the cauterizing agents in surgery. They were the first to apply the method of cooling to stop the haemorrhage, and to start the suturing of wounds with silken threads. Ibn Zuhr (11th century) gave a complete description of operation of tracheotomy, which was not mentioned by the Greeks. Abu’l-Qasim al-Zahrawi invented many surgical instruments illustrated in his book ‘al-Tasrif’. In the same book he described the methods of operations for various diseases. While describing the operations of skull and its parts, the Muslim surgeons made a mention of the operation of uvula and nasal polynus. They used the method of tonsillectomy and paracentesis of the drum of the ear. They were also the first to perform the operation of peritoneal cavity, and to use the method of Trocar and Canula for the special drainage. They made use of anesthetic substances in surgery. While performing major operations they kept their patients unconscious for long time, sometimes even for days.8
The Muslim opticians did valuable and original work in the treatment of eye diseases and in the surgery of the eye. All the operations of the eye which are performed these days were performed by the Muslim surgeons of Mediaeval Ages. The method of the operation of cataract was first described by them. They knew that cataract was due to the incapacity of the eye lens. Ibn al-Haitham described the structure of the eye. He gave the revolutionary ideas as regards the mechanism of sight, and described various types of lenses. Later on these descriptions served as the basis for the invention of spectacles used as a remedy for such eye diseases as short-sightedness and long-sightedness. The Muslims wrote valuable books on the treatment of eye diseases.
The art of midwifery was highly developed by Muslims. In this connection Abu’l-Qasim al-Zahrawi was the first to describe the Walcher’s position. He invented the method of Cranioclasty for the delivery of dead foetus and he himself applied it. A book entitled Al-Athär al-Bãqiyyah in the University of Edinburgh contains an illustration showing an Arab physician performing Caeserian operation. A number of new drugs and therapeutic agents were discovered by Muslims, and many herbs particularly those of India were included in their practice. The pharmacology of rhubarb, senna and camphor was discovered, and hyoscyamus was used by them for medical purposes.
The Muslims introduced pharmacopoeia in medical science. Ibn Sahl was the first to write a book on pharmacopoeia. The recipes contained in the writings of Da’ud al-Antaki (16th century) and others were adopted by European druggists. Arabian pharmacology survived in Europe until the beginning of the 19th century. Some of the original Arabic or Persian names of some drugs and chemicals, such as syrup from the Arabic word Sharab, rab’ for a particular mixture of honey and fruit juice, and julep from the Persian word julläb’ (a particular aromatic drink) were included in European languages.
The Muslims wrote books on those branches of medical science on which their predecessors did not. Among such books Yühann Ibn Maswaih’s book on leprosy, Al-Razi’s books on smallpox and measles, Abü Müsä Ibn ‘Isã’s book on piles, and Qusta Ibn Luqa’s book on sudden death are highly valuable.
From the time of the Banu Umayyah rule the Muslims developed the institution of hospitals. During the reign of the ‘Abbasi Caliph Harün al- Rashid, a hospital was built in Baghdad, which was the first in the history of this city. Many new hospitals were established shortly afterwards. Some of them had their own gardens in which the medicinal plants were cultivated. The large hospitals had medical schools attached to them. Beside such hospitals there were a large number of traveling hospitals in the Muslim world.9
The Muslim hospitals served as models for the hospitals established in different parts of Europe particularly in Italy and France. The establishment of hospitals throughout Europe in the 14th century was partly due to the influence of Crusades. The first hospital in Paris, Quinze Vingt, was set up by Louis IX after his return from the Crusades of 1254-60. The Crusaders were inspired by the magnificent hospitals (Bimaris-tans) of the Seljüq ruler Nur al-Din in Damascus, and those of the Mamluk Sultan Al-Mansur Qala’un in Cairo.
Practical education used to be imparted to Muslim medical students in the hospitals. It is said that there as no arrangement for such education in Alexandria before the Muslim era. According to Al-Razi, a physician had to, satisfy two conditions for selection: firstly, he should be well versed in new and old medical literature, and secondly, he must have worked in hospitals as a house surgeon.10
The second ‘Abbãsi Caliph Al-Mansür called to Baghdad from Jundishapur a Christian physician of Persian origin, named Jarjis Ibn Bakhtyishu who remained in charge of the hospital of that city until 765-6. His arrival at Baghdad with two of his pupils marked the beginning of a great activity in the field of medicine. He seems to be the earliest member of the famous Bakhtyishu family of medical practitioners. This family remained attached to the court of a number of ‘Abbãsi caliphs, and exerted a great influence on the progress of Muslim medicine in the eighth and ninth centuries. Jarjis is said to have been the first to translate some medical works into Arabic. The translations were made by the order of the Caliph. 11
In the ninth century of the Christian era the greatest medical activity was shown by the Arabic speaking peoples. Much activity was devoted to translating the Greek medical works into Syrian and into Arabic. All the translators were Christians. One of them, Ibn-Sahda translated some works of Hippocrates into Arabic. Jibril Ibn Bakhtyishu (d. 828-29) patronized the translators, and worked hard to obtain Greek medical texts. He also wrote some medical works of his own. He made a great contribution to the progress of science in Baghdad. He was the most prominent member of the Bakhtyishu family. A Christian Physician, Salmawaih Ibn Bunan. (d. 839-40) helped Hunáin to translate Galen’s medical works. Salmawaih showed that the use of aphrodisiacs, so common in the East, was dangerous. He flourished under Al-Mä’mün. Later he became physician in ordinary to Al-Mutasim.12
Another translator, Ibn Masawaih (d. 857) translated various Greek medical works into Syrian. His own medical writings were in Arabic. His treatise on ophthalmology called Daghal al‘Ayn (disorder of the eye) is the earliest work extant in Arabic on the subject.13
Another important translator of Greek medical works into Arabic was Ayyub al-Ruhawi, a contemporary of the ‘Abbasi Caliphs Al-Mutawakkil and Al-Mu’tazz (d.869). The translation of 35 works of Galen, a Greek physician, is ascribed to him.14
So far as the physicians of the ninth century ate concerned, an important one was Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Sahl Ibn Rabban al-Tabari. He was also a physicist, and had knowledge of the Bible. He was born in Tabaristan where he was brought up. He belonged to a Jewish family, but he accepted Islam at the hand of the ‘Abbsi Caliph Al-Mu’tasim, who made him his courtier. Ali Ibn Rabban is the author of many works, but his main work is an encyclopedia called Firdaus al-Hikmah. It deals chiefly with medicine, but also with philosophy, meteorology, zoology, embryology, psychology and astronomy. It is mostly based on Greek and Hindu sources, and contains a summary of Hindu medicine at the end. His other medical works are on hygiene, and on the use of food stuffs, drinks and herbs.15
The most illustrious physician of the ninth century was Abü Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya al-Ràzi, (Latin Rhazes). He was the greatest clinician of the middle Ages and probably the greatest Muslim physician. He was also a philosopher and chemist. He was born in Ray (Persia); hence called Al-Razi. The date of his birth is uncertain. He died in 923. In his early age Al-Razi was very fond of music, and used to play flute (‘Ud). When he was of mature age he wished to acquire the knowledge of medicine. His interest in medicine was aroused by an old druggist or dispenser whom he frequently met in the hospital. At last Al-Razi became such an expert physician that he was appointed as the chief physician at the hospital of Ray. Al-Razi regularly attended the hospital, surrounded by his pupils. Whenever any patient came to him he was first examined by his pupils. If the case was found to be complicated, it was passed on to Al-Razi.
Al-Rãzi also served as the chief physician of the hospital of Baghdad which was founded at his own advice. When Al-Rãzi was asked to select some suitable site to build the hospital there, he got some pieces of meat suspended in various localities of the city. The place where the meat deteriorated in the last was selected as the site for the hospital.
Al-Rãzi was the author of 113 major and 28 minor works and of two poems. Some of them have been published in original, and translated into Latin and vernacular languages. Al-Rãzi’s unpublished works are present in the libraries of Asia and Europe. Most of his works have been lost, but from those which are extant one can estimate the depth of his knowledge and ability. His writings are full of personal observations and valuable information. The most important of his monographs is a treatise on smallpox and measles. This work is a masterpiece of Muslim medical literature. It was translated into Latin and English, and enjoyed a great popularity in Europe. It has been published in original, with a French translation in Leyden in 1896.
One of Al-Rãzi’s treatises is on the stone in the kidney and urinary bladder. It has been published in original, with a French translation in Leyden in 1896.
The most important book of Al-Rãzi is Al-Häwi (Continens). It is an enormous encyclopedia of medicine, which contains many extracts from Greek and Hindu medical works. It was translated into Latin. The anatomical part was translated into French and published along with the original Arabic text.
Another important medical work of this author is the Kitab al-Mansüri (Latin Almansoris) named after Mansür Ibn Ishaq, the ruler of Khurasan, who patronized Al-Rãzi while he was living in Persia. This book is largely based on Greek medicine. The French translation of the first part along with the Arabic text has been published. Its ophthalmologic part was translated into German. The second part of the book deals with temperaments and physiology. This subject was of extremely great importance during the Middle Ages.
Al-Rãzi made a valuable contribution to gynecology, obstetrics and Ophthalmic surgery. He also made a considerable contribution to the development of Chemistry, both theoretical and practical. He was the first to apply Chemistry to the preparation of drugs. He is the ancestor of the European iatrochemists of the 16th century.16
Al-Rãzi made a few discoveries in the field of medical science, and invented some drugs. He stated that a sour matter is found in the stomach. He was the first to introduce wet cupping for the treatment of apoplexy and to apply cold water in typhoid. He invented the mercury ointment.17
Al-Rãzi’ was a brilliant and conscious physician. He followed Hippocrates, and was free from the feelings of prejudice and obstinacy. During the reign of the Caliph Al-Mu’tadid (829-902), his stable master, Abü Yusuf Ya’qub Ibn akhi Hizäm wrote a treatise on horsemanship which is entitled as Kitab al-Furusiyyah. It contains some rudiments of veterinary art. It is the first Arabic work of its kind.
Under the patronage of Banü Musä (the sons of Musä) and the Caliph Al-Mutawakkil a Christian physician, Hunayn Ibn Ishaq translated the medical and other scientific works of the Greeks. Banu Musä employed him for the acquisition and translation of Greek manuscripts. The Caliph also appointed him in a school established by him, and ordered him to get these manuscripts translated under his supervision. He became the foremost translator of medical works. The translation made by Hunayn and his disciples was a milestone in the history of the development of science. Hunayn also wrote many medical and astronomical worko.18
In the tenth century nearly all the creative work on medicine was done in the Muslim world, but not by Muslims alone. Some non-Muslims, too, made valuable contributions to the development of this science. But all of them wrote in Arabic. Towards the middle of the tenth century, the number of physicians grew surprisingly large. The research on medicine was carried out throughout the Muslim world. In Muslim Spain the work on medicine was of the same level as in the domain of Eastern Caliphate. Sometimes it was even superior to that.
The Fatimi Caliph Ubaid Allah al-Mahdi (908-934), ordered his physician Ishaq al-Isrã’ili, a Jewish physician and philosopher to compose some medical writings in Arabic. He wrote a medico-philosophical treatise on the elements and another on definitions. His main works are on fever, simple drugs, temperaments, dentology and urine. The last work seems to be the most elaborate mediaeval treaties on the subject. These writings were translated into Latin, Hebrew and Spanish. They exerted a great influence on the progress of medicine in Europe.l9
A great Muslim physician of the tenth century was Abü Sa’id Sinãn Ibn Thãbit Ibn Qurrah. He was also a mathematician and astronomer. He flourished at Baghdad where he died in 943. He embraced Islam in middle age. He was greatly honored by the Abbasi Caliph Al-Muqtadir who appointed him as the chief physician. At that time there were 860 persons of the medical profession in Baghdad. They were forbidden by the Caliph to practice unless they had been examined by Sinãn and received a certificate of registration from him. Besides serving Muq’tadir, Sinãn also served two other successive Caliphs, Qadir Billãh and Radi. Sinãn tried to raise the standard of medical profession, and organized a brilliant administration of the Baghdad hospitals. He is the author of many works on different subjects.20
Another great physician of this period who was one of the three greatest physicians of the Eastern Caliphate was ‘Ali Ibn ‘Abbãs al-Majüsi (Latin Haly Abbas). He was the native of Ahwãz in South-West Persia. He was a close associate of ‘Adud al-Dawlah for whom he wrote an encyclopedia called ‘Kitab al-Maliki or Kämil al-Sanãah al-Tibbiyyah. The people intensely studied it until the appearance of the ‘Qãnün’ (Canon) of Ibn Sinã, which usurped its popularity. It is more practical than the ‘Qãnün’ and more systematic than Razi’s Hawi. The Maliki is divided into 20 discourses, of which the first – half deals with the theory and the rest with the practice of medicine.
The second and the third discourses of Al-Ma1iki deal with anatomy. The French translation of this part of the book has been published along with the Arabic text. The 19th discourse is devoted to surgery. The introduction of this book consisting of three chapters of the first discourse is highly remarkable. The part of the introduction consisting of the criticism of the ancient medical works is particularly interesting. The author explains the plans of his book in which he tries to give a moderate description of the subject treated, and illustrates his method by a specimen description of pleurisy. He begins with the definition of the disease and its aetiology. Then he mentions the four constant symptoms, fever, cough, pain and dyspnoea; whence he proceeds to the prognosis and specially the indications furnished by the supta, and finally give the treatment. In his book the author describes the importance of attending the hospital regularly. He writes: “And of those things which are incumbent on the student of this Art are that he should constantly attend the hospitals and sick houses, pay unremitting attention to the conditions and circumstances of their inmates, in company of the most acute professors of Medicine; and enquire frequently as to the state of the patients and the symptoms apparent in them, hearing in mind what he has read about their Variations, and what they indicate of good or evil. If he does this, he will reach a high degree in this Art. Therefore, it behooves him who desires to be an accomplished physician to follow closely these injunctions, to form his character in accordance with what we have mentioned therein, and not to neglect them. If he does this, his treatment of the sick will be successful, people will have confidence in him, and he will win their affection and respect and a good reputation; nor will he lack profit and advantage from them. And God Most High knoweth best”.
The best parts of the book are those which are devoted to dietetics and ‘materia medica.’ It contains the rudimentary conception of the capillary system. It also includes some interesting clinical observations, and gives the proof of the theory that the womb moves during parturition i.e., the child is pushed out. It does not come out itself.21
Another physician of this period, who made pharmaceutical experiments was Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Sa’id al-Tamimi al-Muqaddasi. He was born in Jerusalem, and in 970 he went to Egypt. He wrote on materia medica and other branches of medical science. His main work is a guide (Murshid) on materia medica which supplies valuable information on plants, minerals and other things.22
A Christian physician named Abu Yüsuf Ben Issac Ben Ezra Hasdai flourished at Cordova at the court of ‘Abd al-Rahman III and Al-Hakam II. He was a translator of Greek works into Arabic and a patron of science. He was physician to the Caliph. He discovered a panacea called ‘Al-Fãruq.’ He translated with the help of the monk Nicolas a manuscript of Dioscorides. This manuscript dealing with plants was presented to ‘Abd al-Rahman III by the Emperor Constantinos VII.23
Another physician, patronized by these rulers, was Arib Ibn Sa’id al-Kãtib who died in 976. He was also a historian and wrote a chronicle of Muslim Spain and Africa. He also wrote a treatise on gynecology, the hygiene of the pregnant women and infants, obstetics and calendar. 24
Another treatise on the hygiene of the pregnant women and of babies, entitled Kitab Tadbir al-Habalah wa’l Atfal, was written by an Egyptian physician named Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Yahyã al-Baladi. He flourished under the wazir Yaqub Ibn Kils (d. 990).25
A famous physician and historian of the tenth century was Abu Jafar Ahmad Ibn Ibrãhim Ibn Abi Khalid, commonly known as Ibn al-Jazzar. He flourished in Qairawan, Tunis, and died in 1009. He is the author of many works on medicine, history and other subjects. His most important work is Zäd al-Musäfir. It was translated into Latin, Hebrew and Greek, and was extremely popular. It includes a remarkable discussion on smallpox and measles. He also wrote on simple and compound drugs, the cause of plague in Egypt and the way of treating it.26
In the eleventh century, too, real advancement in the field of medicine was made only in the Muslim world. In the same century the school of Salerno, the scientific school of Christian Europe showed some activity in this field. But the literary works produced there were far inferior to the contemporary ones written, in Arabic. Constantine, the African, made intensive efforts to translate Arabic works into Latin. These translations were helpful in the development of medicine in Europe.
An important physician and surgeon of the 11th century was Abu’l-Qasim Khalaf Ibn Abbas al-Zahräwi. He was born at Al-Zahra in the suburb of Cordova (Spain), the centre of Western Muslim Empire. He was educated in a distinguished university of Cordova. He studied medicine and other sciences with the learned scholars of his time, and increased his knowledge and experience by working in great hospitals. Due to his ability Al-Hakam II made him his court physician. He wrote a book entitled Al-Tasrif, which is an encyclopedic work comprising all branches of medicine and surgery. This book, unparalleled in the medieval times, is considered to be the only source of modern surgery. It is divided into two parts; theoretical and practical. Each part consists of 15 chapters. The last section of the book sums up the entire surgical knowledge of that time, and contains illustrations of more than 300 surgical instruments which are used even today. This section is divided into three parts. The first part deals with cauterization (of wounds) and the instruments used for that purpose. This type of treatment was very popular in Arabia. The advantages of fire have also been fully explained in it.
The second part deals with common surgical operations. It gives the methods for crushing and removing the stone from the urinary bladder, the operations of eyes and teeth, and cutting the organs of the body. It also discusses bandages and the treatment of ulcers and wounds.
The third part deals with bone fractures and the problems of joints. An account of the paralysis caused by some defect in the spinal cord has also been given. In this part the author has given a discussion on midwifery and a description of various stages of the embryo in the womb of the mother, and has mentioned the method for taking out the child from the womb of the mother with the help of instruments.
In the 12th century the book Al-Tasrif was translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona; and its various editions were published at Venice in 1497, and at Basel in 1541. In 1778 it was published at Oxford along with the original Arabic text. One copy of this edition is present in the British Museum and one in Bodleian Library. Its English translation was published in 1861, and French translation in 1881. The Arabic text of the book was published at Lucknow (India) in 1908, and to explain the difficult words and the complicated terms used in it, an Arabic-Urdu dictionary entitled Lughat-e-Qutbiyyah, was composed and published.
This masterpiece of Al-Zahrawi held its place for centuries as the manual of surgery at Salerno, Montpelliers and other early schools of medicine in Europe. The great European historians admit that for her primary advancement in surgery Europe is indebted to Al-Zahrawi. Dr. Edward Browne and Dr. Joseph Heres have recognized Abu’l Qasim al-Zahrawi as an eminent surgeon. In his book Arabian Medictne, Dr. Arnold Campbell has written a large treatise on Al-Zahrawi, which reveals, the importance of this name in the West. He disclosed that the Western scholars Roger Bacon (1214-49) and Goe De Scholeic (1300-68) gained the knowledge of medicine and surgery from the books of Al-Zahrawi and Ibn Rushd.
Roger Bacon, John Tchanning and other scholars remarked that Al-Zahrawi’s work helped in laying the foundation of surgery in Europe. For centuries the Western scholars made references to this work in their books. It has influenced Muslim scholars also, and it is still being referred to and taught at the centers of Arabian Medicine in the East.27
A great scientist of the 11th century and one of the greatest scientists of all times was Abu Ali Husain Ibn Abd Allah Ibn Sina, commonly known in the West as Avicenna. He was one of the greatest men that this world has ever produced. Although he did not belong to an influential family, and was unable to get the facilities of life, yet he became, while still a youth, the author of an encyclopedic work. His life was full of events, and circumstances often obliged him to travel from court to court where sometimes honours were showered upon him, and sometimes he was cast into prison. But whatever the situation may be, he occupied himself in reading, writing and teaching, and remained always surrounded by a group of his pupils. He was a philosopher, physician, scientist, poet, philologist, logician, statesman and thinker, who made research, and contributed to the development of all sciences, and through whose efforts medicine, recorded an unprecedented progress. He was hailed by the scholars as Al-Shaykh al-Ra’is (the Great Teacher). He possessed so many qualities that, while discussing his life history, we almost fail to decide as to what aspect of his life should be more particularly discussed.
Ibn Sinã, the ‘Prince of Physicians’ as he was called throughout the medieval times, was born in 980 at a village in the Persian Province of Balkh where his father lived. In 985 his family moved to Bukhãrã where, at the age of five, he started his education. At the age of 10 years he had already completed his basic education, and also learnt the Qurãn by heart. He was, then, sent to various teachers under whom, for the next six years, he studied algebra, arithmetic, astronomy, logic, philosophy and theology. At the age of 16 he turned to medicine. In the course of his study of philosophy, Ibn Sinã was confused by those problems which were related to metaphysics, but ultimately he got rid of his difficulties with the help of a commentary by a distinguished philosopher, Al-Färàbi, Ibn Sinä was an industrious student who never spent a whole day or a whole night in sleep or in any other occupation but study, and whenever he came across some obscure point he would go to a mosque where he prayed to Allah to remove his confusion.
Ibn Sinã states that at first he practiced medicine, not for the sake of money; but for his own experience and instruction. He was just 18 years old when he became so much popular as a medical practitioner that he was summoned for the treatment of Nuh Ibn Mansür Sãmäni, when the other physicians failed to cure him. When Nuh Ibn Mansür had recovered he was so much pleased with Ibn Sina that he allowed him to visit the royal library which was well stocked with rare and valuable books, and Ibn Sinã derived the fullest benefit from this opportunity.
At the age of 21 Ibn Sina was to be found at the court of ‘Ali Ibn Ma’mun, the King of Khwärizm, who’s prime minister was a man of scholarly taste. Here Ibn Sina was treated with great respect. At last he fled from there, for the king Mahmud Ghaznawi wanted him at his court, but he preferred liberty to the court of the king. Then hearing about the scholarly taste of Qabus, the ruler of Jurjan, he set out for Jürjan where he eventually reached after undergoing great hardships. But he was too late, because shortly before his arrival Qäbüs was deposed. Ibn Sinä gave expression to his misfortune in a poem which he composed at this occasion. He says: “When I became great no country had room for me; when my price went up, I lacked a purrchaser”.
At last, circumstances caused Ibn Sina to leave this country too. Turning Westwards he came to Ray where a woman named Sayyidah was ruling on behalf of her infant son, Majd al-Dawlah Daylami. Here he was treated with great respect and the young prince appointed him as his minister. The mother being angry at this appointment, Ibn Sinã was obliged to flee once more.
Now Ibn Sinã reached Hamadan and treated Shams al-Dawlah, the ruler of the country, who was suffering from colic. When he recovered he appointed Ibn Sinã as his minister. But only a short while had passed when mutiny broke out among the soldiers, which caused his dismissal and imprisonment. But very soon Shams al-Dawlah was again attacked by severe colic. He, therefore, summoned Ibn Sinã back to undertake his treatment, apologized to him, and restored him to his office of state. The death of Shams al-Dawlah led Ibn Sinä to trouble, for his successor; Taj al-Dawlah did not like him. Ibn Sinä fled and hid himself in a house. His flight gave rise to suspicion with the result that he was sought after and imprisoned. But after four months he escaped in disguise and came to Ispahan where ‘Ala al-Dawlah, often known as Ibn Käküya, was reigning.
Here Ibn Sinã was welcomed by Ala al-Dawlah, and became his confidential adviser. Thus once again he overcame his misfortune, and began to lead a very active life. During the day he attended to the matters of the state, and spent a great part of the night in delivering lectures and in writing his books. At last Ibn Sinã, who was tired of activities and was weakened by overwork, died in 1036 of colic at the early age of 58 years. His tomb lies in the city of Hamadan.
Ibn Sinã was a remarkable scholar who began to write before he was 17, and wrote almost on all subjects. Numerous works are ascribed to him, many of which are voluminous. Brocklemann enlists 99 of his extant works but he is known to be the author of 200 works. Out of these 68 are on theology and metaphysics, 11 on astronomy, philosophy and physics, four on poetry, and 16 on medical science. He wrote mainly in Arabic but his two Persian works are also known. One of them named Danishnama-e ‘Alài which was dedicated to Ala al-Dawlah, is a manual of philosophy. It deals with natural science, philosophy, logic, mathematics, music, metaphysics and astronomy. The other is a small treatise on pulse.
Among the 16 medical writings of Ibn Sinã, eight are versified treatises. They deal with such matters as the 25 signs indicating the fatal end of illness, hygienic precepts, proved remedies, anatomical memoranda, and similar other topics. Among his books the most important and popular is Al-Qãnün (Canon). This is a comprehensive book and contains about a million words. It has been excessively and beautifully divided into major and minor sections. The whole work has been divided into five parts. The first part deals with the general principles of medical treatment, the second describes the simple drugs in alphabetical order. The third part discusses the diseases of all the organs of the human body, and the fourth consists of the description of those diseases which are local in the beginning, and finally affect all parts of the body. The final part is on materia medica. The Qãnün was translated into Hebrew in 1270. It was also translated into Latin by the two Gerard of Toledo, and about 30 editions of this work were published in Europe. Many commentaries on the work were written in the 15th century. A beautiful Arabic edition of the book was published in Rome in 1593. Another edition was published in Egypt a few years ago. The translation of the first volume of the book, with the exception of the anatomical part, was made into English in 1930 by Dr. O.C. Gruner and was commented by him and by Dr. Soubiran in 1935.
Ibn Sinã surpassed both Aristotle and Galen in dialectical subtlety, and his way of reasoning appealed to the scholastics of the middle Ages. The Qãnün formed half the medical curriculum of the European universities in the latter part of the 15th century, and continued as a text book up to about 1650 in the universities of Montpellier and Louvain. It is still the reference book of the men of medical profession in the East. After the appearance of Qãnün, the study of the books of Al-Rãzi and the Kämil al-Sana’at of Al-Majusi, which were standard works, was almost completely abandoned.
Nizãmi Arüdi Samarqandi in his ‘Chahãr Maqalah’ (Four Treatises) after narrating various works, the deep study of which is essential for the acquisition of full knowledge of the medical science, remarked “Whoever has thoroughly understood the first volume of the Qãnün, to him nothing will remain hidden of the fundamental principles of medicine, and were it possible for Hippocrates and Galen to return to life it is sure that they would do reverence to this book”.
Among the other medical writings of Ibn Sinã are Al-’Urjuzah Fi’l-Tibb, and his treatise on cordiac drugs. The latter lies probably second in importance to the Qãnün. Two other minor works, namely, Qawanin or ‘The Laws’ and the Hudüd al-Tibb (The limitations of medical science) are also known. Ibn Sinã also wrote a treatise on Colic. He is also the author of a book called Mabda’wa’l-Ma’àd, which contains an interesting chapter on the possibility of the production of exceptional psychical phenomena.
Beside Al-Qãnün some other works of Ibn Sinã have also been translated into Latin, and thus they influenced the development of science and philosophy in Europe. In his ‘Arabian Medicine’, Dr. Campbell enlists these translations in detail.28
Another Muslim physician of this period, who also had a knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and literature, was Abu’l-Salt Umayyah Ibn Abd al-Aziz Ibn Abi’l Salt. He was born in 1067-68 at Denis, and lived in Seville. He traveled Eastwards and came to Egypt where he stayed for 20 years. In the middle of this period he was imprisoned and banished by the Emperor Afzal. He went to Alexandria and thence to Mehdiya where he became an associate of Yahyã Ibn Tamim, the ruler of that territory.
About the end of the 11th century he tried to raise a ship sunk at Alexandria but could not succeed. He was the author of several medical, astronomical and mathematical works. He also wrote some treatises called Rasã’il al-Misriyyah which contains his observations on the people and things in Egypt. His main and important works include a treatise on simple drugs (translated into Latin), a treatise on Logic (translated into Spanish) and a treatise on astrolabe. He also composed some verses which are said to be very appealing. Abul-Sa1t also wrote a treatise on music which was translated into Hebrew.29
Now we mention some members of Ibn Zuhr family which was the greatest medical family of Spain. This family belonged to the tribe of Banü Azd. At the beginning of the tenth century it established itself at Shätibah (Jativa) in the East of Spain. The Spanish ancestor of this family was named Zuhr, hence the patronymic Ibn Zuhr.
The most illustrious member, except Ibn Zuhr, of this great medical family of Muslim Spain, was Abu’l-Ala Zuhr Ibn Abu Marwan ‘Abd al-Malik Ibn Muhammad Ibn Marwan al-Ishbili. Abul-Alã’ flourished in Eastern Spain. He lived in Cordova. He engaged himself in the study of Hadith and literature. Later he turned towards medicine. He was a distinguished physician, and had a comprehensive knowledge of medicine. The people of Maghrib felt proud of him and of his family. He was the courtier of Al-Mutamid, the last Abbsi king of Seville, who ruled from
1068-1091. When Seville was conquered by the Berber Murabitin (Almoravides) in 1091, he became wazir to the conqueror Yüsuf Ibn Tashfin who ruled until 1106. His usual name, Al-Wazir Abu’l Ala Zuhr was corrupted in Latin translations in many ways; such as Alguazir, Albuleizer. He died in Cordova in 1130. His body was carried to Seville where he was buried.
Abu’l Ala Zuhr is the author of many medical works. One of them is Kitab al-Nukat al-Tibbiyyah (main principles of medicine) which is a practical guide containing special references to climatological and pathological conditions in Marrakush. It supplies complementary information on deontology and various other medical subjects.30
The most famous and illustrious member of the greatest medical family of the Muslim Spain, Ibn Zuhr family is Abu Marwan ‘Abd al-Malik lbn Abi’l-Ala’ Ibn Zuhr, commonly known as Ibn Zuhr (Latin Avenzoar). He was born about 1091-1094, and died in 1161-62. He was a native of Seville (Spain), and was the greatest physician of his time, both in the East and in the West. He is distinguished from other physicians in that he devoted his entire attention to the study of medicine. He served under Al-Murabitün and when they got defeated by the Almohades (Al-Muwahhidun) he became a physician and Minister to the first Muwahhid ruler (1130-1163) Abd al-Mu’min Ibn ‘Ali. He was the author of at least six medical works. One of these is the Kitàb al-Iqtisad fi Islah al-Anfus wa’l-Ajsäd. It was written for the ‘Murabit’ prince Ibrahim Ibn Yüsuf Ibn Tashfin who was the son of the minister. As the title suggests, it deals with souls as well as with bodies. In the beginning it gives a summary of psychology. Further it deals with therapeutics and hygiene.
The second book which is the author’s most important work is the Kitäb al-Taisir fi’l Mudãwat wa’l Tadbir (Book of simplification concerning therapeutics and treatment) which was written at the request of his friend and admirer, Ibn Rushd. It deals with generalities of medicine and some special topics. It contains an elaborate study of pathological conditions and relevant therapeutics. At the end of this book the author gave an antidotory or formulary called Jämi’ (collector) in which he had collected recipes. The Taisir was translated into Latin and Hebrew.
The Taisir contains many clinical descriptions such as mediastinal tumors, pericarditis, intestinal phthisis, pharyngeal paralyses, inflammation of the middle ear and scabies. The author recommends tracheotomy and artificial feeding through the gullet and rectum. He recognized that the air coming from marshes is nocuous. He greatly advocated venesection. He was the first to describe itch-mitl. (Acarus scaliei). Thus he was the first important parasitologist since Alexander of Taralles (second half of the sixth century).
The third book of Ibn Zuhr is Kitäb al-Aghdhiyyah (Book of the food stuffs) which was written for the first Muwahhid ruler ‘Abd al-Mu’min who ruled from 1130 to 1163. This book deals with various kinds of food and their use according to seasons, with simple drugs and hygiene. It also shows the usefulness of various bezel stones.31
Until the end of the 11th century, all the medical works in the Muslim world were written in Arabic. Arabic language was the only medium for expressing religious and philosophical ideas throughout the Muslim world. Even the works of non-Muslims were written in Arabic. But for the first time, in the 11th century, medical literature was produced in Persian as well. A physician, Zain al-Din Abu’l-Fada’il Ismã’il Ibn al- Husain came to the court of Khwärizm and wrote some works on medicine in Persian. He also wrote in Arabic. Among these the most important was a medical encyclopedia, the Dhakhira-e-Khwarizm Shahi, the treasure of the king of Khwãrizm. It was written for Qutb al-Din Muhammad Shah (1097-1127).
The Dhakhira consists of about 450,000 words. It is very carefully divided into various headings and sub-headings. Primarily, it is divided into nine books. A tenth book on simple drugs had been added later. Secondarily, it is divided into 75 discourses and 1107 chapters. Six chapters of the eighth discourse of the sixth book are devoted to the local diseases of heart, and a part of the 13th discourse deals with Istisqä. The Tadhkirah was translated into Hebrew. A lithographed Urdu translation of this book is used in India and Pakistan.
The author compiled some other comparatively short books. For the wazir of Qutb al-Din successor. He composed a treatise entitled Aqhrad
ai-Tibb. He compiled another treatise on drugs and pharmacy. He also wrote a condensed edition of Tadhkirah entitled Khafi ‘Alä’i. Khafi is a derivative of Khaf, meaning a riding shoe. The book was written in two long volumes so that the traveler could take each one of these volumes in a riding shoe. Ismãil Ibn al-Hunayn is also the author of some other works.32
The greatest physician of the 13th century was ‘Ala al-Din Abu’l-Hasan Ali lbn Abi’l-Hazm Ibn al-Nafis al-Qarshi, who was born in Damascus and died at the age of 80, probably in 1288-1289 in Egypt, He wrote many works on medicine and other subjects. As the source of his writings he used his memory, experience, observations and deductions, and relied very little on other sources. He was often quoted by other writers. He set up an endowment for the Mansuri hospital in Cairo.
Ibn al-Nafis is the author of many commentaries on the Al-Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and on the medical writings of Hippocrates, Hunayn Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Sinã. He also wrote some medical works. One of them is a treatise on eve diseases and another on diet entitled Kitab al-Mukhtar min al-Aghdhiyyah. Among all his writings the best is his commentary on the Qãnün, Kitab Mu’jiz al-Qãnün (also called Al- Mujiz fi’l-Tibb). It is divided into four sections, (1) generalities on the theory and practice of medicine; (2) victuals and drugs, simple and compound; (3) diseases of the individual organs; (4) other diseases, their causes, symptoms and cures. This book enjoyed much popularity. Many commentaries •were written on it. It was translated into Turkish and Hebrew.
Ibn al-Nafis wrote another commentary on the anatomical part of the Qãnün. It is extremely interesting from the physiological point of view. Ibn al-Nafis describes Ibn Sinã’s view on circulation in heart and lungs, and repeats the Galenic fragments as described by Ibn Sinã. He then vigorously contradicted these views. He stated that the venous blood cannot pass from the right to the left ventricle through visible or invisible pores in the septum, but must pass through the venous artery to the lungs, mingled there, with air, pass through the ‘arterious vein’ into the left vertical and form there the “vital spirit”. Ibn Nafis theory is of extreme importance. Ibn Nafis is one of the main for runners of William Harvey and the greatest physiologist of the Middle Ages in the West.33

REFERENCES
1, Wasiti, Hakim Nayyr, Tibb al-Arab, (Urdu translation of Arabian Medicine, by Edward G. Browne, Lahore, 1954, p. 368.
2. Briffault, Robert, The Making of Humanity, Islamic Foundation, Lahore, 1980, P. 201.
3. Sarton, George, Introduction to the History of Science, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1950, Vol. III, p. 1729.
4. Wasiti, Hakim Nayyr, Muslim Contribution to Medicine, Lahore, 1962, p. 2.
5. Landau, Rom, Islam And the Arabs, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., London, 1958, p.178.
6. Wasiti, op. cit., p. 4.
7. Ibid.
8. Elgood, Medical History of Persia And Eastern Muslim Caliphate, p. 179.
9. Arnold & Guillaume, The Legacy of Islam, Oxford. 1949, p. 221.
10. Wasiti, op. cit., p. 10.
11. Al-Qifti, ‘Ali Ibn Yusuf, Tãrikh al-Hukama, Leipzig, 1903, p. 158.
12. Sarton, op. cit., p. 573.
13. Ibid. p. 574.
14. Ibid.
15. Wasiti, Tibb al-Arab, pp. 52-56.
16. Ibid., p. 609.
17. Ibid., Wasiti, op. cit., p. 65.
18. Al-Qifti, op. cit., p. 171. Vol. I, p. Sarton, op. cit.
19. Ibid., p. 639.
20. Wasiti, op. cit., pp. 56-57. A1-Qif;i, op. cit., p. 190.
21. Wasiti, pp. 73-77.
22. Sarton, op. cit., p. 679.
23. Ibid., p. 680.
24. Ibid., Haji Khalifa, Kashf al-Zunun, Istanbul, p. 949.
25. Ibid., p. 679.
26. Haji Khalifa, Kashf al-Zunun, Istanbul, 1943, VoL I p. 946.
27. Ibid, p. 411. Wasiti, op. cit. pp, 343-362.
28. Al-Qifti, op. cit., p. 413.; Elgood, op. cit., pp. 203, 205.
29. Al-Qifti, op. cit., p. 80. ; Sarton, op. cit., Vol. 11, Part I, p. 230.
30. Ibid.,
31. Ibid, pp. 231-233.
32. Ibid, p. 234 ; Wãsiti, op. cit., p. 128.
33. Ibid., p. 447. ; Sarton, op. cit., Part II, p. 1099.

Md. Wasim Aktar

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The Modern Medical Science: a Journey Through History

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:52:04 +0000

Md. Wasim Aktar

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How the Economy Affects Nanny the Industry

admin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 06:55:06 +0000

Ana, a nanny that works and lives just outside of Manhattan called Best Nanny Newsletter crying during the first week of October, 2008. Ana told me that her boss came home early during the week from his job on Wall Street and announced he had been fired, and that her employer could no longer afford to employ her.

I acknowledge working as a nanny for two parents that work on Wall Street is unsettling for me. If the economic recession has a trickle-down effect it will inevitably affect nannies. Nannies may lose jobs, but there may also be increase jobs as two parent families send both parents to work to bring in two incomes.

To share proper advice with Ana I asked a few nanny agency owners and nanny industry professionals if the economic recession is affecting their businesses and for their advice for nannies (like Ana) during this economic recession.

Katherine Leary Robinson, President of Beacon Hill Nannies, Inc. in Newton, Massachusetts says, “I recommend nannies back down their salary expectations 10-12%, if they are not seeing families actively pursuing them.”

Ms. Leary continues, “Live-in nannies are very fortunate in this horrible economic environment. As their only expenses are clothing and entertainment, they have not experienced the increase costs of rent, heating, food or gas. Please don’t forget the amount of money you save as a live-in nanny, here on the east coast. Live-in nannies are enjoying on average an additional $25,000 a year in tax free benefits with free room, board, an insured car, and health insurance. You would have to be earning an additional $33,000 year gross to net that $25,000 for those live out expenses.”

Susan Tokayer, Owner and President of Family Helpers, Inc. in Dobbs Ferry, New York explains, “We have been slower both with our temporary service and long-term service for the past six-weeks, since the banking crisis hit. I would say we are doing about 30% less business than we were doing one-year ago. Most families are being cautious right now, so there isn’t as much activity as normal.”

Ms. Tokayer adds, “Everyone (nannies included) should have some money set aside for emergencies. If you were to suddenly be unemployed because your employer lost his/her job, you should have some money available to live on until you secure another position. Ideally, you want to have the equivalent of six-months of living expenses in savings. If you don’t have that amount, now is a good time to put some money aside for a rainy day. Finding a new job may take longer than usual in this economic environment.”

Glenn S. Greenhouse, Owner of Greenhouse Agency, Ltd. In New York says, “We have noticed a very slight decline which I believe is due to the current financial crisis we are all facing. However it is minimal.”

Mr. Greenhouse continues, “My advice to nannies would be to stay where you are if your job is secure. If your boss’s job is secure, don’t look for greener pastures. If you are seeking a job, don’t sell yourself short, but weigh job security as much as job compensation. It is a better decision taking a few dollars less with a family who will have their money tomorrow, than risk a job paying big bucks with a family who just made their money or who are working in a risky industry.”

Rachel Lawrence, Owner of Wilmington Nanny Agency LLC in North Carolina shares, “Things have slowed down some. Although you may be worth every penny, now might not be a good time to play hard ball about salary. Talk to parents and try to set up a plan for starting at a lower salary and then having a 90-day raise and a raise in one-year to get closer to the salary you were originally looking for. Once the family sees how wonderful you are, raises will be a lot easier to give than a high salary off the bat.”

Shannon Pitts, CEO of InteliMark Enterprises and GreatAuPair.com explains, “Some families are holding back on full-time care, seeking ways to reduce their childcare costs. We have more candidates seeking fewer available jobs now than this time last year.”

“Nannies seeking employment may find they are competing for fewer available positions and as such should consider the quality of their application. It would also be worthwhile to learn how to sell the skills they have to potential employers and enhance their interview skills,” explains the CEO of InteliMark Enterprises.

“Another option for nannies would be to consider organizing a nanny share between two families. This will help ensure the nannies procure full time hours while assisting families with the cost of childcare. Families will be looking for nannies that have the organizational and time management skills needed to make a nanny share a workable option for both families,” says Shannon Pitts.

Alicia Torchia, President and Placement Consultant of Careful Care Givers LLC which serves the New Jersey and New York tri state area writes, “I have seen a 5% decline in the volume of business we have brought in over this past year, these are families who are hiring us seeking nanny care services. I have seen an increase in families hiring us for infant care specialists. I have seen an increase in repeat business over all.”

Ms. Torchia adds, “I have seen an increase in professional nurses, teachers, and college graduates and even corporate persons entering the nanny field because they lost jobs in their field. I tell all the nannies in my network to try and not change a job in this economy because you never know when you are going to find another job that suits your needs.”

Sharon Toutant, Owner of A Better Nanny in Sierra Madre, California tells us, “We are seeing fewer families offering full-time positions. They often are using family for part of their caregiver needs and hiring part-time nannies. Many families are seeking our help in finding their nannies some other part-time work so they won’t lose someone valuable to their lives.”

Ms. Toutant says, “My best suggestion to nannies is to be extremely prepared and have your best information ready for that first interview. Present a well done concise resume, written references with phone numbers or other contact information for those references, a current DMV report and any criminal background check that you can present. Also present for examination any school transcripts, CPR and First Aid certification. Be the nanny who brings the best package to the table so the family will remember you as the best prepared.”

Lora Brawley owner of Brawley & Associates and AllAboutNannyCare.com in Federal Way, Washington adds, “I’ve seen a decline in the number of families purchasing consulting services. However, I still get about the same number of families looking to hire a nanny.”

Ms. Brawley recommends that nannies:

1. Be prepared to jump into a job search. Don’t wait until the unthinkable happens before you start polishing your job search skills and developing your search portfolio.

2. Be prepared to have the “why are we paying you this much?” conversation. Every nanny should be able to clearly define the value they bring to a family.

3. Stay calm. Anxiety is contagious. It’s your responsibility as a professional to create and maintain a secure care giving environment. Plus it will make you feel better too!

Judi Merlin, President of A Friend of the Family Home Services, Inc. in Georgia answers, “Yes, our business is down, both short and long-term. We are recruiting for only specific areas and specific jobs, as we have enough caregivers to fill almost all the jobs we have.”

Pat Cascio, Founder and Director of Morningside Nannies in Houston, Texas explains, “Long-term placements are down. Temporary is down a bit. We have had fewer inquiries, fewer new clients, and fewer hires.”

Ms. Cascio says, “Nannies that are used to earning at the higher end of the salary range, may need to be a bit flexible about the salaries they are requesting. Some families that are involved in investments and banking are not earning they type of commissions that they are used to and thus money isn’t flowing as easily as it once may have. Other families may be watching their investments dwindle in the market and aren’t feeling very certain about their financial futures. When offered employment, nannies should consider themselves lucky to be getting a job offer and hope that when the financial situation turns around that their employer will be able to increase their salary. There have been a few stories recently about nannies not being able to find jobs in cities as large as New York. The London newspapers are reporting the same thing — when families cut back on expenses the nanny may be the first to go.”

Merrilan Kougias, CEO, Choose The Right Nanny, LLC in McKinney, Texas discloses, “We have seen a decrease in our live-in placements in markets such as New York. We have also noticed that families are not calling to interview candidates in a timely manner. Clients (on the East Coast) are not rushing to fill vacancies and seem to be taking a ‘wait and see’ approach.”

The CEO of Choose The Right Nanny continues, “If a nanny decides she must make a career change, she should try to be patient and flexible. A high end nanny may need to reduce her salary requirement or work smarter by using an agency to promote her job skills and salary requirements. Another point is to insist on a work agreement or contract between the employer and the nanny.”

Michelle Damas, CEO of Neverland Nannies & Domestics in Woodland Hills, California says, “Unfortunately, we have noticed a slight decline in business due to the economic recession. However, there are certainly still jobs available by those who the recession does not affect.”

Ms. Damas continues, “The recession doesn’t affect the majority of our type of clientele, but first time home buyers and (unfortunately) lower income households have to cut corners. On the brighter side, many families who still have secured employment still demand quality childcare for their children, offering continued career opportunities for professional nannies and child workers.”

“If any nannies are experiencing difficulties securing nanny positions, I would encourage them to take the following steps in order to increase their odds of finding a great opportunity and beating their competition:

1. Put together a quality nanny resume. Hint: List your qualifications in the beginning so they stand out from others. Try to only incorporate your childcare related positions, rather than non-relevant work experience. Families want to know what type of childcare experience you have more so than anything else.

2. Do not put all your eggs in one basket! I encourage all nannies to take the time to scope out the quality agencies in their area and interview with each and every one of them (don’t sign on to an agency exclusively). Without harassing the agencies, provide each with a weekly phone call/email letting them know that you are still in the market for a nanny position.

3. Remain competitive by keeping your salary requirements reasonable. Figure out what the going rate is in your area and then adjust accordingly. Be flexible, and professional.

4. If you can, be flexible with your schedule (and note it on your resume). If you are open to travel, overnight stays, and weekend, note that on your resume.

5. Try to go on the majority of interviews each agency offers you. Be on time to every interview and dress professionally. Bring a copy of your resume, your references (depending on the agencies policies), any letters of recommendation you may have, copies of your First Aid/CPR certifications, Trustline clearance and any other documents you may have that show your qualifications as a professional nanny.

6. Again, remain optimistic! All of that positive energy is bound to land you a great career opportunity.”

Anne Merchant of Teacher’s College for Professional Development and author of The Nanny Textbook explains, “The economic recession has impacted us. We waived all of our fees because the number of nannies registering for classes dropped-off dramatically. Now, because we have no fees at all our student count is higher than it has been in six-years. I would advise nannies to not make the mistake of assuming that you will never be laid-off. With the rate of foreclosures and the tumbling down of formerly well-respected banks and corporations (not to mention individuals and families that have lost a lot of money in the stock market) people are cutting back.”

Ms. Merchant recommends, “To stay as marketable as possible, don’t work just on your education – work on getting additional credentials that can be added to your resume, such as;

1. Renew your CPR certification and include a copy of the certificate in your nanny portfolio.

2. Get a letter of recommendation from your current employer while you are currently working or ask your employer to complete an evaluation for you that can be included in your nanny portfolio.

3. Ask friends that are nannies if their employer needs an occasional evening nanny and if so request a letter of recommendation.

4. Take nanny classes like ours at Teacher’s College for Professional Development.

5. Find a way to volunteer to help out at an after school program, nursery school, a Gymboree, the local bookstore or library by conducting a “story hour,” or daycare. Volunteer for an adult or children’s literacy group, teaching English as a second language, or tutoring at an elementary school. Tell them up-front that you are building both your skills and your resume and you would like them to acknowledge your help by writing a letter of reference.”

Steve Lampert CEO of eNannySource.com a national nanny web site writes, “It’s a fact that there will be more nannies searching for fewer jobs, that makes it extremely important that each nanny be very professional and have a well written resume, dress appropriately and have good letters of reference. Also, respond quickly to all emails and calls and arrive on time for interviews.”

Jo Anne Reed, Owner of Estate Domestics, in Atlanta, Georgia suggests, “I would advise nannies to get seasonal jobs to subsidize their income while we get through this time.”

Hilary Lockhart, CEO and Founder of A+ Nannies, Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona shares, “Our temporary placements are down 42%, family registrations are down 47%, and permanent placements down 51%. I think everyone is seeing a hit. I think that nannies need to know that if they want the same pay they have been getting for the last two or three-years, they need to expect to be patient when looking for jobs. We have many families wanting to start about $1 less than what I was seeing two-years ago; they are all willing to give raises at six-months. I think parents are just trying to save money (like the rest of us). Of course there are those clients that money is still no issue, but they are not all like that.”

Betty Davis of In Search of Nanny Inc. in Beverly, Massachusetts discloses, “We will not have as high an increase in total annual revenue as compared to prior years. We will definitely meet last year’s total revenue levels but we might not increase revenue, as we have in nearly every past year.”

Ms. Davis adds, “In the metro Boston area, it is not just in-home care that has been impacted. There are many long-term family daycare providers in our geographic area who have closed their businesses due to lack of enrollment and have submitted applications to the agency for professional positions. Day care centers have also let teachers go due to declining enrollment.”

“Salaries in the metro Boston area are perhaps the highest in the country and they have increased dramatically over the past two- to three-years. I think caregivers, as all of us, will have to ‘tighten the belt’ and perhaps consider positions at slightly lower salaries (still competitive) than perhaps they have had recently. The economy will come back and if a caregiver is doing a great job, I am sure as their employers are more secure in their professional positions, their caregiver’s work will be financially recognized. Most of the families that we assist have also seen their income decline – no raises, elimination of bonuses, and so on,” says Ms. Davis.

She continues, “Nannies might also consider working two part-time positions to earn their weekly salary. We have placed caregivers in two jobs – a two-day job and a three-day job. Salaries for part-time positions do not seem to have been as affected as salaries for full-time caregivers. When our agency places one caregiver in two part-time positions our agency will always negotiate full benefits for the caregiver between two families. If a caregiver already has one part-time position (which she found independently) and wants us to find another to ‘match’ it, the caregiver might not receive a full paid benefits package unless we are able to negotiate with the other family – which has happened only a few times.”

Mary O’Connor, Owner of Nannies from the Heartland, in Minneapolis, Minnesota adds, “Right now we are at about the same place we were last year. We have noticed more families considering a part-time nanny over a full-time nanny. Our temporary placements have increased. However, in the last couple of weeks we have had a decrease in client inquires and new clients.”

Ms. O’Connor says, “Nannies should carefully consider switching jobs knowing that finding something could take much longer than it has in the past. Good jobs are available but it is taking longer to find the ‘right fit.’ Consider accepting temporary or short-term work while searching for permanent placements. Look at what might be negotiable because you may be making compromises in your pay range or benefits. It is in the nanny’s best interest to make sure their resume is up-to-date, CPR and First Aid is current, and they have demonstrated professional continuing education — these things get attention.”

Erin Krex, Owner of First Class Care, Inc., in Illinois adds, “Families are not offering the same generous salaries as three-months ago. They are shopping around more for the best deal. Most of the nannies I see are asking for more money than they made at their last job, which is understandable, but I tell them if you can find a good family who needs you long-term then take the pay decrease and wait the year for a raise, otherwise they will go months without a job while waiting for the desired salary.”

Some agency owners have seen no affect from the economic recession. For example, Starla Smith of HouseholdStaffing.com in Pennsylvania says, “Business is booming!”

Ginger Mylander Swift, President of ABC Nannies & Domestics, Inc. in Denver, Colorado discloses that she is having, “another great year and once again we are on track to surpass last year’s revenues. Nannies with experience and strong references will always be in demand.”

Jessica Gillan, President and CEO of A Nanny Solution, Inc. in San Jose, California shares, “I have had my most profitable year. We have placed 53 full-time nannies this year alone, and the year isn’t over. I have had parents tell me that they recently sold stocks to be able to afford one of our high caliber nannies in addition to our placement fees. I have seen three agencies in the bay area go under within the last six-months, I advertise my services to the business and medicals professionals who are less affected by the economy, since I placed a nanny with a doctor at Stanford, the whole hospital calls me now. Believe it or not, this economy can be a blessing in disguise for the nanny industry. More mothers are going back to work and those families need nannies. If this truly is your career then you must take the good with the bad, the economy will make a return. In the meantime, stay off craigslist where the parents who are looking for a cheap deal are on there and as a result only want to offer below market wages. Parents use agencies because they want the whole package and they are aware of the placement fees and higher salaries. Parents want a polished and a committed professional nanny.”

Wendy Sachs, President of The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc. explains, “We have not noticed a decline in our business in any way due to the economic recession. We have seen families deciding to opt out of using our service telling us it’s because of the economy but we are still getting new clients in to replace that attrition.”

Ms. Sachs continues, “With more people getting laid-off, the pool will become flooded with people looking for work, reassess moving out of job at this time, may be wiser to hold onto the job they are currently in.”

Elizabeth Walsh, Owner of NannyQuest, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia explains, “Our clientele seem to be above the financial storm. I suggest nannies open up the parameters of your job search. Be willing to do a bit more than just childcare. Sell yourself by emphasizing your skills at home management, light housework, meal preparation, tutoring, swimming lessons, and so on. When parents realize that they can be more effective at making money because of what you take off their proverbial plate, they are more willing to pay top dollar.”

Claudia Kahn, Owner of The Help Company, in Santa Monica, California writes, “We have not yet seen a decline in our business, but we are expecting it. We have had calls from many good nannies that have lost their job and are seeking new employment. I also assume that parents will try to do the job that a good agency will do in vetting the right person to help with their childcare. There is always a need for nannies here in Los Angeles as there are thousands of families with dual income parents that need childcare. I am not only telling the nannies, but other job seekers as well as personal and executive assistants, and chefs to possibly lower the expectations of their salaries, and to be more flexible in what they are looking for in a position. Everyone needs to lower their prices including agencies, as this is a time when everyone is worried about their bottom line.”

Susan Feigon & Gail Hamilton of Feigon Hamilton Partnership recommend “Keep a positive attitude and keep the job you already have for now.”

The good news: Ana, the nanny that called Best Nanny Newsletter crying she had lost her job the first week of October has found a job before printing this issue. She has just signed a contract making $65,000 per year as a nanny in Hoboken, New Jersey. For Ana, her former boss losing his job became her blessing in disguise.

Thank you also to Sacha Taylor of Nannies and More in Atlanta, Georgia, Susan Buczak of Christian Nanny in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Shari Kendall-O’Neill, Owner of Amazing Placements, LLC for their contributions to this article.

References:

1. Lora Brawley, Brawley & Associates, Federal Way, WA

2. Pat Cascio, Director, Morningside Nannies, Houston, TX

3. Michelle Damas, CEO of Neverland Nannies & Domestics, Woodland Hills, CA

4. Betty Davis, Owner, In Search of Nanny Inc., Beverly, MA

5. Susan Feigon and Gail Hamilton, Feigon Hamilton Partnership,

6. Jesica Gillan, President and CEO, A Nanny Solution, Inc., San Jose, CA

7. Glenn S. Greenhouse, Owner, Greenhouse Agency, Ltd., New York, NY

8. Claudia Kahn, Owner,The Help Company, Santa Monica, CA,

9. Merrilan Kougias, CEO, Choose The Right Nanny, LLC, McKinney, TX

10. Erin Krex, Owner, First Class Care, Inc., IL

11. Rachel Lawrence, Owner, Wilmington Nanny Agency LLC., Wilmington, NC

12. Anne Merchant, Teacher’s College for Professional Development

13. Judi Merlin, President, A Friend of the Family Home Services, Inc., GA

14. Shannon Pitts, CEO, InteliMark Enterprises GreatAuPair.com

15. Steve Lampert CEO, eNannySource.com, West Hills, CA

16. Hilary Lockhart, CEO, A+ Nannies, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ

17. Mary O’Connor, Owner, Nannies from the Heartland, Minneapolis, MN

18. Jo Anne Reed, Owner, Estate Domestics, Atlanta, GA

19. Katherine Leary Robinson, President, Beacon Hill Nannies, Inc., Newton, MA

20. Wendy Sachs, President, The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc., Ardmore, PA

21. Starla Smith, HouseholdStaffing.com Bala Cynwyd, PA

22. Ginger Mylander Swift, President, ABC Nannies & Domestics, Inc., Denver, CO

23. Susan Tokayer, President, Family Helpers, Inc., Dobbs Ferry, NY

24. Alicia Torchia, President, Careful Care Givers LLC Skillman, NJ

25. Sharon Toutant, Owner, A Better Nanny, Sierra Madre, CA

26. Elizabeth Walsh, Owner, NannyQuest, Inc., Atlanta, GA

Stephanie Felzenberg

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What is an infants travel luggage limit ?

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 01:00:27 +0000

what is the luggage limit for an infant under 2 when traveling abroad to pakistan as they travel free do they get any luggage limits?

It varies from airline to airline, usually either 5kg or 10kg. But there are also airlines who don’t give infants an allowance so you really need to check with your airline.

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