s {310} given to the administration of
drugs in this early period, and might prove a lesson to many a modern
physician.

Toward the close of their career, the Arabian doctors began the
practice of dissecting and the closer study of anatomy and physiology,
which added much to the power of the science. Yet they still believed
in the "elixir of life," and tried to work miracle cures, which in many
respects may have been successful. It is a question whether they went
any farther into the practice of miracle cures than the quacks and
charlatans and faith doctors of modern times have gone. The influence
of their study of medicine was seen in the great universities, and
especially in the foundation of the University at Salerno at a later
time, which was largely under the Arabian influence.

_Metaphysics and Exact Science_.--It would seem that the Arab-Moors
were well calculated to develop psychological science. Their minds
seemed to be in a special measure metaphysical. They laid the
foundation of their metaphysical speculations on the philosophy of the
Greeks, particularly that of Aristotle, but later they attempted to
develop originality, although they succeeded in doing little more, as a
rule, than borrowing from others. In the early period of Arabian
development the Koran stood in the way of any advancement in
philosophy. It was only at intervals that philosophy could gain any
advancement. Indeed, the philosophers were driven away from their
homes, but they carried with them many followers into a larger field.
The long list of philosophers who, after the manner of the Greeks, each
attempted to develop his own separate system, might be mentioned,
showing the zeal with which they carried on inquiry into metaphysical
science. As may be supposed, they added little to the sum of human
knowledge, but developed a degree of culture by their philosophical
speculations.

But it is in the exact sciences that the Arabs seem to have met with
the greatest success. The Arabic numerals, probably brought from India
to Bagdad, led to a new and larger use of arithmetic. The decimal
system and the art of figures were {311} introduced into Spain in the
ninth century, and gave great advancement in learning. But, strange to
relate, these numerals, though used so early by the Arabs in Spain,
were not common in Germany until the fifteenth century. The importance
of their use cannot be overestimated, for by means of them the Arabian