The stamp
This stamp was issued in Hungary in 1987. It is one of a series showing famous doctors from history. The design is by the Hungarian illustrator János Kass (1927 - 2010). It has a face value of four forint.
The doctor
Avicenna was born around 980 in Persia (now Iran). He has also been called Ibn Sīnā or Abu Ali Sin.
He was a doctor but also a noted polymath with a broad breadth of knowledge.
He wrote a large book of medicine and surgery called Avicenna’s Canon.
The urology connection
Avicenna wrote about many aspects of medicine and surgery.
He drew some instruments which may have been used for early bladder stone surgery.
He also wrote about uroscopy (the examination of the urine to diagnose illnesses). Click here to read about uroscopy in the Library section of the Virtual Museum.
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