In the brilliant period of the Ptolemies, both chemistry and pharmacology were studied, and it seems not improbable that, when the Arabs took Alexandria in the year 640, there were still many workers in these subjects.
The most famous of those early Arabic writers is the somewhat mythical Geber, who lived in the first half of the eighth century, and whose writings had an extraordinary influence throughout the Middle Ages.
The whole story of Geber is discussed by Berthelot in his "La chimie au moyen age" (Paris, 1896).

The transmission of Arabian science to the Occident began with the Crusades, though earlier a filtering of important knowledge in mathematics and astronomy had reached Southern and Middle Europe through Spain.

Among the translators several names stand out prominently.

Gerbert, who became later Pope Sylvester II, is said to have given us our present Arabic figures.

You may read the story of his remarkable life in Taylor,( 17) who says he was "the first mind of his time, its greatest teacher, its most eager learner, and most universal scholar." But he does not seem to have done much directly for medicine.
(17) The Mediaeval Mind, Vol.