Gilbertus Anglicus | Page 9

following terms:
"_Incipit liber morborum tam universalium quam particularium a
magistro Gilberto anglico editus ab omnibus autoribus et practicis
magistrorum extractus et exceptus, qui compendium medicine
intitulatur._"
It will be observed that no claim whatever for originality is presented
by the author. He calls his book a compendium extracted from all
authors and the practice of the professors, and edited only by himself.
The same idea is more fully emphasized later (f. 55c), where he says:
"_Sed consuetudo nostra est ex dictis meliorum meliora aggregare, et
ubi dubitatio est, opiniones diversas interserere; ut quisque sibi eligat
quam velit retinere._"
The self-abnegation implied in these extracts must not, however, be
interpreted too literally, for the editorial "_dico_" on numerous pages,
and even an occasional chapter marked "Propria opinio," testify to the
fact that Gilbert had opinions of his own, and was ready on occasion to
furnish them to the profession. On the whole, however, the
"Compendium" is properly classified by the author as a compilation,
rather than an original work.
The Compendium is divided into seven books, and the general
classification of diseases is from head to foot--the usual method of that
day. The modern reader will probably be surprised at the
comprehensiveness of the work, which, besides general diseases,
includes considerable portions of physiology, physiognomy,
ophthalmology, laryngology, otology, gynecology, neurology,
dermatology, embryology, obstetrics, dietetics, urinary and venereal

diseases, therapeutics, toxicology, operative surgery, cosmetics and
even the hygiene of travel and the prevention of sea-sickness. Some of
these subjects too are discussed with an acuteness and a common sense
quite unexpected. Of course, scholastic speculations, superstition,
charms, polypharmacy and the use of popular and disgusting remedies
are not wanting. Even the mind of a philosopher like Roger Bacon was
unable to rise entirely above the superstition of his age. But the charms
and popular specifics of Gilbert are often introduced with a sort of
apology, implying his slight belief in their efficacy. Thus in his chapter
on the general treatment of wounds (f. 87a) he introduces a popular
charm with the following words:
"_Alio modo, solo divino carmine confisi, quidam experti posse curari
omnes plagas hoc._
"_Carmine._
"_Tres boni fratres per viam unam ibant, et obviavit eis noster dominus
jesus christus et dixit eis, tres boni fratres quo itis_, etc."
And again, in his discussion of the treatment of gout and rheumatism (f.
327b), Gilbert adds, under the title
Emperica "_Quamvis ego declino ad has res parum, tamen est bonum
scribere in libro nostro, ut non remaneat tractatus sine eis quas dixrunt
antiqui. Dico igitur quod dixit torror: Si scinderis pedem rane viridis et
ligaveris supra pendem podagrici per tres dies, curatur; ita quod
dextrum pedum rane ponas supra dextrum pedem patientis, et e
converso. Et dixit Funcius, qui composuit librum de lapidibus, quod
magnes, si ligatus fuerit in pedem podagrici, curatur. Et alius
philosophus dixit. Si accipiatur calcancus asine et ponatur ligatus supra
pedem egri, curatur, ita quod dexter supra dextrum, et e converso. Et
juravit quod sit verum. Et dixit torror quod si ponatur pes testudinis
dexter supra dextrum pedem podagrici, et e converso, curatur._"
We may believe, indeed, that Gilbert would have preferred to follow in
the therapeutic footsteps of Hippocrates, had he not disliked to be
regarded by his colleagues as eccentric and opinionated. For he says in

his treatment of thoracic diseases (f. 193c):
"_Etenim eleganter dedit Ipo. (Hippocrates) modum curationis, sed ne a
medicis nostri temporis videamur dissidere, secundum eos curam
assignemus._"
Gilbert was a scholastic-humoralistic physician par excellence,
delighting in superfine distinctions and hair-splitting definitions, and
deriving even pediculi from a superfluity of the humors (f. 81d). Of
course he was also a polypharmacist, and the complexity, ingenuity,
and comprehensiveness of his prescriptions would put to shame even
the "accomplished therapeutist" of these modern days. In dietetics too
Gilbert was careful and intelligent, and upon this branch of therapeutics
he justly laid great emphasis.
The first book of the Compendium, comprising no less than 75 folios,
is devoted entirely to the discussion of fevers. Beginning with the
definition of Joannicius (Honain ebn Ishak):
"Fever is a heat unnatural and surpassing the course of nature,
proceeding from the heart into the arteries and injuring the patient by
its effects."
Gilbert launches out with genuine scholastic finesse and verbosity into
a discussion of the questions whether this definition is based upon the
essentia or the differentia of fever; whether the heat of fever is natural
or unnatural, and other similar subtle speculations, and finally arrives at
a classification of fevers so elaborate and complex as to be practically
almost unintelligible to the modern reader.
The more important of these fevers or febrile conditions are:
Ephemeral Hemitertian Double quartan Interpolated Synocha Causon
synochides Epilala Quotidian Double tertian Quintan Continued
Causon Putrid Lipparia Tertian Quartan Sextan Synochus Synochus
causonides Ethica