Anglo-Saxon leechcraft : an historical sketch of early English medicine. Lecture memoranda British Medical Association Liverpool 1912.

  • British Medical Association.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Anglo-Saxon leechcraft : an historical sketch of early English medicine. Lecture memoranda British Medical Association Liverpool 1912. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    25/344 (page 17)
    CHAPTER II The Anglo-Saxon Leech and his Practice The Anglo-Saxon medical practitioner was known as '• the Leech, an appropriate name in one sense, and probably derived from the medical use of the leech for letting blood, known from times of great antiquity. This term for the man of medicine remained in use in England throughout the Middle The origin Ages. Apparently, he was not exclusively Leech of the priestly caste like the Druids, and yet it seems clear from Anglo-Saxon literature that the officials of the church were also exponents of the medical art. It appears probable that their early training was obtained in the treatment of the sick who were brought to the monasteries, and treated in the monastic infirmaries. That there was some T,hf.tr? inig oi the leecn kind of instruction or training in the art may be inferred from the following antient lines:— Twig runes shalt thou ken If thou a leech will be, And ken a sore to see ; On bark shall one then write And on branch of wood whose limbs to east do lout. Again, in the Anglo-Saxon manuscript, Medicinale Anglicum, the expression as leeches know how is used, from which it may be presumed that the text was intended to instruct those who were desirous of acquiring some knowledge of leechcraft. From contemporary drawings in the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts, we are enabled to form a fairly accurate idea of the appearance of the Leech of this period. Thin and grave in mien, as picptu; of became a man of learning, with full ^^f^ moustaches and beard, he is depicted attired in the rock, or Anglo-Saxon tunic, reaching to his knees, with a decorated border and girdle. His