parchment (qiṭ‘at raqq)

Ingredients

parchment (qiṭ‘at raqq), cord

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

To prepare a balloon syringe (miḥqan) component for bladder irrigation when a ram-bladder is unavailable, az-Zahrāwī instructs to cut a round piece out of parchment (qiṭ‘at raqq). Small holes must be made closely to each other near the edge of the circular piece. A strong piece of cord is then drawn through these holes. By pulling the cord together, the parchment is gathered to form a moneybag (ṣurra). This bag serves as the flexible reservoir for the liquid medication and is tied to a silver cannula (p. 71).

Evidence

"az-Zahrāwī recommends that a round piece be cut out of parchment (qiṭ‘at raqq), that holes be made closely to each other near the edge and a strong piece of cord be drawn through the holes and, while pulling the cord together, the parchment be given the form of a moneybag (read ṣurra instead of ṣufra)."

Remarks

The parchment is utilized here as a functional mechanical component for medical irrigation rather than a writing support. The text notes that this is a substitute for a ram-bladder (p. 71). The author highlights a philological correction for the term used to describe the gathered shape, suggesting 'ṣurra' (moneybag) instead of 'ṣufra' (p. 71). This description provides insight into the processing and structural use of animal-skin parchment in 10th-century Andalusia (p. 71).