thabit
a lebanese doctor
told
ousama ibn munkidh
how the franks
brought him a knight
with an abscess
in his leg
which he polticed
til it opened
and began to heal
then one of their own
physicians
intervened
saying . . .
this man
knows nothing
about the treatment
required . . .
and asked the knight
if he wished
to live with one leg
or die with two
the knight
opted for life
whereupon
his leg was struck
a severe blow
with a sharp axe
which failed
to sever it
another blow
was dealt
and out burst
the marrow
of the leg
while at once
the patient
expired