The "De morbo quem gallicum nuncupant" (1497) of Coradinus Gilinus / by Cyril C. Barnard.

  • Barnard, Cyril Cuthbert.
Date:
1930
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The "De morbo quem gallicum nuncupant" (1497) of Coradinus Gilinus / by Cyril C. Barnard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    io7 11 ter we must agree with Galen (de ingenio sanitatis, lib. XIV, cap. de cancro)* when he says, “Cancer proceeds more from the impurities of the blood, such as the lees of wine and oil, but when a substance becomes more gross and adust, it penetrates more quickly to the tenuous parts”, and the soft ones rather than the hard, and so very often it begins in those tenuous parts. This is apparent from Avicenna (Book 4, Fen. 3, Trea¬ tise 2, Chapter 15, de cancro, Differentia l), for the Prince him- - ■ *:, - - • ' 5 , ,7 • - •' • ' i self in defining the differences between cancer and sephiros, says that cancer “occurs more in the tenuous parts, such as the testicles, vulva, anus and lips”; and, as he says, cancer does indeed occur commonly in the tenuous parts and especially in the softer ones and in the liver [?] ’). I maintain therefore that this French sickness or disease is likewise produced in various parts of the body according to the difference of adustion. Very often too this disease is conjoined with formica, as Prince Avicenna says in the aforementioned passage on the Ignis Persicus * 1 2), “Since it does not cease to make corrosion after corrosion”. IV. Treatment: (a) Prophylactic. As regards prevention I will say briefly that those measures that protect against the above- named sicknesses, protect also against this one, the Divine aid being first invoked, as Moses did when he said 3), “Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people .... Turn from thy fierce wrath”, for these measures were handed down by the most learned. Likewise in the control of this malady I deem we must have recourse to them. But one thing among others I will say, that this disease is contagious: wherefore I again and again warn men on no account to lie with women who are suffering from this pernicious sickness or those who have had intercourse with men rendered dangerous thereby, for I have seen many infected from this cause who have suffered very great torments. Now I wished to write these few notes in order to show that , • .. ■ 1 » . . * •• * *.,*'* \ Y' *’• cs * . . 1) eptete in the original, possibly a misprint for (Ji)epate. The Venetian Collection omits the phrase altogether. 2) See p. 106,^^ note 2.