Facial palsy and its management in the Kitab al-Hawi of Rhazes.

More than 1000 years ago, Rhazes practiced rudimentary neurology. This monumental physician wrote more than 200 books in his lifetime and died a blind pauper in the 10th century AD. His Kitab al-Hawi (Liber Continens) was one of the most famous and detailed medical texts of the ancient world. Here, we discuss the life of Rhazes and provide perhaps the first English translation of his writings dealing with facial palsy (Lagveh) and its treatment. It is the contributions of early clinicians/scholars such as Rhazes on which we base our current medical knowledge.