The Physica (Medicine), [1] also known as the Liber simplicis medicine (Book of Simple Medicine), is a 12th-century medical text by Hildegard of Bingen.
Publication history
Hildegard of Bingen served as an infirmarian at her first monastery and was well-acquainted with various medical traditions. [2] What was subsequently given the conventional title of Physica, or Medicine, by Johannes Schott [3] is part of Hildegard's lost medical collection, the Subtilitatum diversarum naturarum creaturarum libri novem (Nine Books on the Subtleties of Different Kinds of Creatures), [4] [1] written between 1151 and 1158. [1]
In 1222, Gebeno, prior of the Cistercian monastery at Eberbach, claimed in the foreword of his Speculum futurorum temporum (Mirror of Future Times; a compilation of prophecies by Hildegard) that she had written a "book of simple medicine" (librum simplicis medicine). [5] A decade later, the Physica (under the title of Liber simplicis medicine) was submitted to Rome as part of Hildegard's canonisation inquiry, alongside the Liber composite medicine (Book of Compound Medicine), [a] another entry in Hildegard's Subtilitatum. [7]
The Physica survives in at least nine manuscripts dating from as early as the thirteenth century, five of which contain the full text. [8]
Content
The Physica comprises nine books on plants (230 chapters), [8] elements (63 chapters), [b] [10] trees (63 chapters), [10] stones (26 chapters), [11] fish (37 chapters), [11] birds (72 chapters), [c] [12] animals (45 chapters), [d] [14] reptiles (18 chapters), [15] and metals (8 chapters). [15] Each chapter discusses the medicinal properties of an entity based on the ideas of hot, cold, wet, and dry. [3]
Legacy
According to Lois N. Magner, the Physica was "probably the first book by a female author to discuss the elements and the therapeutic virtues of plants, animals, and metals", as well as the first book on natural history composed in Germany. [4]
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Hozeski 2001, p. x.
- ^ Sweet 2014, p. 222.
- ^ a b Wallis 2021, p. 146.
- ^ a b Magner 1992, p. 109.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 147.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 144.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 148.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 28.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 156.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 29.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 30.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 33.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 155.
- ^ Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 43.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 45.
Works cited
- Hozeski, Bruce W. (2001). Hildegard's Healing Plants. Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807021088.
- Magner, Lois N. (1992). A History of Medicine. CRC Press. ISBN 9780824786731.
- Kitchell, Kenneth F.; Resnick, Irven M. (1998). "Hildegard as Medieval "Zoologist": The Animals of the Physica". In Maud McInerny (ed.). Hildegard of Bingen: A Casebook. Garland Publishing Company. pp. 25–52.
- Sweet, Victoria (2014). "Hildegard of Bingen". Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. pp. 222–223. ISBN 9781135459321.
- Wallis, Faith (2021). "Hildegard of Bingen: Illness and Healing". In Jennifer Bain (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen. Cambridge University Press. pp. 144–169. ISBN 9781108471350.
The Physica (Medicine), [1] also known as the Liber simplicis medicine (Book of Simple Medicine), is a 12th-century medical text by Hildegard of Bingen.
Publication history
Hildegard of Bingen served as an infirmarian at her first monastery and was well-acquainted with various medical traditions. [2] What was subsequently given the conventional title of Physica, or Medicine, by Johannes Schott [3] is part of Hildegard's lost medical collection, the Subtilitatum diversarum naturarum creaturarum libri novem (Nine Books on the Subtleties of Different Kinds of Creatures), [4] [1] written between 1151 and 1158. [1]
In 1222, Gebeno, prior of the Cistercian monastery at Eberbach, claimed in the foreword of his Speculum futurorum temporum (Mirror of Future Times; a compilation of prophecies by Hildegard) that she had written a "book of simple medicine" (librum simplicis medicine). [5] A decade later, the Physica (under the title of Liber simplicis medicine) was submitted to Rome as part of Hildegard's canonisation inquiry, alongside the Liber composite medicine (Book of Compound Medicine), [a] another entry in Hildegard's Subtilitatum. [7]
The Physica survives in at least nine manuscripts dating from as early as the thirteenth century, five of which contain the full text. [8]
Content
The Physica comprises nine books on plants (230 chapters), [8] elements (63 chapters), [b] [10] trees (63 chapters), [10] stones (26 chapters), [11] fish (37 chapters), [11] birds (72 chapters), [c] [12] animals (45 chapters), [d] [14] reptiles (18 chapters), [15] and metals (8 chapters). [15] Each chapter discusses the medicinal properties of an entity based on the ideas of hot, cold, wet, and dry. [3]
Legacy
According to Lois N. Magner, the Physica was "probably the first book by a female author to discuss the elements and the therapeutic virtues of plants, animals, and metals", as well as the first book on natural history composed in Germany. [4]
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Hozeski 2001, p. x.
- ^ Sweet 2014, p. 222.
- ^ a b Wallis 2021, p. 146.
- ^ a b Magner 1992, p. 109.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 147.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 144.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 148.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 28.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 156.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 29.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 30.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 33.
- ^ Wallis 2021, p. 155.
- ^ Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 43.
- ^ a b Kitchell & Resnick 1998, p. 45.
Works cited
- Hozeski, Bruce W. (2001). Hildegard's Healing Plants. Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807021088.
- Magner, Lois N. (1992). A History of Medicine. CRC Press. ISBN 9780824786731.
- Kitchell, Kenneth F.; Resnick, Irven M. (1998). "Hildegard as Medieval "Zoologist": The Animals of the Physica". In Maud McInerny (ed.). Hildegard of Bingen: A Casebook. Garland Publishing Company. pp. 25–52.
- Sweet, Victoria (2014). "Hildegard of Bingen". Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. pp. 222–223. ISBN 9781135459321.
- Wallis, Faith (2021). "Hildegard of Bingen: Illness and Healing". In Jennifer Bain (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen. Cambridge University Press. pp. 144–169. ISBN 9781108471350.