"Walter Cooper Dendy (1794-1871) and the First Book on Pediatric Dermatology" - Reader's Question.

Sir,

Great scientists have always been influential in the history of science due to their impact on the lives of human being. This impact becomes more pronounced when a physician authors a book that saves the lives of thousands of children or alleviates their pain throughout the centuries. Certainly, Walter Cooper Dendy (1794-1871) is one of the most enduring physicians in the history. We thank the author of the article, A K Mukhopadhyay, for introducing this scientific figure and the first book on pediatric dermatology.[1] But we would like to mention some points about his article.

In the present article, views of al-Razi (Rhazes) (854-925 CE) on pediatric diseases have been mentioned; however, he was preceded and followed by famous physicians in this field. Rabban al-Tabari (838-870 CE) had discussed pediatric diseases in one whole chapter in his book, Firdaws al-Hikma (Paradise of Wisdom).[2] Thābit ibn Qurra (836-901 CE), the physician who translated many of the scientific works of ancient civilizations, wrote the book al-Judari wa al-Hasbah (Smallpox and Measles) and also authored another book about the babies born at seven months of age. One of the most famous physicians of the Middle Ages, who had a great influence on other physicians, was al-Majusi (930-994 CE). He presented his main views in his book, Kamel Alsana'a, and described in detail the health and illnesses of children, specific treatments in various cases, and the prenatal period till adolescence.[3] Avicenna (980-1037 CE), the famous physician of the Middle Ages, also devoted a whole chapter to children's medical issues in his book, The Canon of Medicine.[4]

Based on this evidence, it seems that in the mentioned article while discussing the texts before the eighteenth century, an incomplete attention has been paid to the issue of pediatrics in the Middle Ages.

Moreover, a big and strange mistake has been made about Rhazes (al-Razi) in this article, i.e., introducing him as an Arab physician. It is clear that in the Middle Ages, the term “Razi” was used to refer to the people of the city of Rey, which was one of the most important cities in Iran and is still part of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The language of its inhabitants has always been Persian. Therefore, recognizing its inhabitants as Arabs is a very strange claim. The language of his book (Arabic), which was the international language of the time, should not make the authors of the article think that Rhazes was an Arabic physician.[5]