The Caledonian medical journal : new series, vol. VI, no. 2, October, 1904 / edited by W.A. Macnaughton and Andrew Little.
- Caledonian Medical Society.
- Date:
- 1904
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The Caledonian medical journal : new series, vol. VI, no. 2, October, 1904 / edited by W.A. Macnaughton and Andrew Little. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
14/54 (page 38)
![largely, if not entirely, compiled and translated from the works of the great physicians of antiquity. In all cases the translations have been made from Latin versions, themselves translated from Arabic, or through Arabic from Greek, and the translators have allowed themselves a certain freedom in translating. As might be expected, the ancient theories of medicine, such as the four elements, the humours, &c., occupy considerable space in some of these documents. Mr. Anderson points out that in several of the manuscripts the scribes have permitted themselves to relieve the monotony of their task by writing remarks on the margins and in half- filled lines. They grumble occasionally when they are not pleased with the subject. The prayer, “ 0 God, put a good end upon this book’s owner,” is not meant for irony, any more than is the request at the end that the reader shall pray for the soul of the owner. “ 0 God, bring this book to a good end,” is more like a note of weariness, and so perhaps are the pious ejaculations, “0 God, help me;” “0 Mary, have pity upon me.” We meet also with such remarks as “ Good is the writing,” “ Bad is the ink,” “ It is dark.” In one or two cases a scrap of poetry is written upon the bottom margin, probably from memory. Sometimes there is. a note or addition to the text; very occasionally a note from one man to another, such as “A blessing here from Neill to my own companion, Rory O’Siaghail,” or, after a different scribe has taken up the work for a space, “ That for thee, Angus, and my blessing with it, from Ewing MacPaul.” When the medical MSS. are composite, it may be noted that the contents are less miscellaneous than in other collections. They seem to have been gathered together by some physician for his own use. The Latin quotations in these MSS. are of great value. They are always explained, often translated, and occasional]}' glossed in Gaelic, thus helping to define the use of words whose meanings have changed at different periods, and some- times explaining words now obsolete. Medical expressions were not much used in old Gaelic literature, and many of the words contained in these MSS. are not to be found in any glossary. The Latin helps also to the extension of Gaelic contractions. And, again, the very peculiar spelling of the Latin, evidently following their own pronunciation, might be made to show the country—France or England—under whose educative influence they stood. In many cases it is evident that the scribes knew no Latin. Occasional changes to suit their pronunciation of](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22432140_0016.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
