another would open in another place...Then came to him a Frankish physician and removed from the leg all the ointments which were on it and began to wash it with very strong vinegar. By this treatment all the cuts were healed and the man became well again He gives another example of a boy whose neck was affected with scrofula. A Frank noticed the boy and advised the boy's father on how to cure him: Take uncrushed leaves of glasswort, burn them, then soak the ashes in olive oil and sharp vinegar. Treat the scrofula with them until the spot on which it is growing is eaten up. Then take burnt lead, soak it in ghee butter and treat him with it. That will cure him. The father treated the boy accordingly, and the boy was cured. The sores closed and the boy returned to his normal condition of health. I have myself treated with this medicine many who were afflicted with such disease, and the treatment was successful in removing the cause of the complaint. Usama is quoting his uncle, who is quoting said Tabith, on the example of fatal Frankish practices, whereas he himself has positive experience with, been taught, and recommends Frankish medicinal practices. Also, death following an amputation due to an abscess is the same treatment, and fate, suffered by the Ayyubid Sultan as-Salih Ayyub in 1249, miles from any Frankish physician. Warfare Usama gives us a record of how warfare was conducted. One of the main themes of the book is that the outcome of warfare is pre-determined: 'Victory in warfare is from Allah...and is not due to organisation and planning nor to the number of troops and supporters., He describes how discipline was maintained while marching through enemy territory: ...making our stops at the call of the bugle and starting again at the call of the bugle. Siege warfare was much more common than open battles; Usama describes the practice of mining, digging a tunnel under a castle and then setting light to the wooden supports so the tunnel would collapse taking the tower of the castle with it. Usama also gives us information on the sort of armour and arms that were used. The lance was a very important weapon; Usama describes using lances in the battle of Kafartab: We dislodged from them eighteen knights, of whom some received lance blows and died,