The physicians of Myddvai : Meddygon Myddvai, or The medical practice of the celebrated Rhiwallon and his sons, of Myddvai, in Caermarthenshire, physicians to Rhys Gryg, lord of Dynevor and Ystrad Towy, about the middle of the thirteenth century / From ancient mss. in the libraries of Jesus College, Oxford, Llanover, and Tonn; with an English translation; and the legend of the lady of Llyn y Van ; translated by John Pughe and edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel. Pub. for the Welsh mss. society.

Date:: 1861

Credit: The physicians of Myddvai : Meddygon Myddvai, or The medical practice of the celebrated Rhiwallon and his sons, of Myddvai, in Caermarthenshire, physicians to Rhys Gryg, lord of Dynevor and Ystrad Towy, about the middle of the thirteenth century / From ancient mss. in the libraries of Jesus College, Oxford, Llanover, and Tonn; with an English translation; and the legend of the lady of Llyn y Van ; translated by John Pughe and edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel. Pub. for the Welsh mss. society. 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.

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THE ESSENTIALS OF A PHYSICIAN. These things should be in the possession of a Physician : and then follow the characteristics which should distinguish him, which are called the Essentials of a Physician. I. A lancet to bleed or open an abscess, also a knife somewhat larger. ij, A steel or silver spatula to spread plaster. iij, A pipe and bladder in order to inject to the urinary organs or rectum. His plasters, his ointments, his pills, his powders, his potions, carefully preserved to meet any demand and occasioia. D. A garden of trees and herbs, where such herbs, shrubs, and trees, as do not everywhere grow naturally, may be kept cultivated, and where foreign trees and plants, which require shelter and culture before they will thrive in Wales, may be grown. Hj. He should also have his diy herbs, roots, seeds, and barks kept at hand, so that they may be had in winter, and other times when they are not to be obtained growing, or above ground. in], He should also have at hand, his honey, liis wax, his pitch, his rosin, his gums, his oil, his tallow, his grease, his lard, his marble slab, his ale, his wine, his mead, his distillations, and other ai'ticles as may be required. Uiij. He should also have at hand his mortars, his strainer, his press, his stone ware, his glass ware, his wooden vessels, his fire utensils, and his vessels for keeping articles, whether of glass, earthen, or silver, witli good covers, so that the drugs may not become inert, or poisonous from want of keeping, carelessness, or ignorance. i,T, He should also have weights and balances at hand, either of silver or tin, so that nothing deleterious might get into the drugs. All his liquid or fluid measures should also be made of silver or tin, for the same reason. Likewise his surgical instruments generally, with the exception of lancets, cutting scalpels, and probing needles. I. All his weights and measures, whether of solids or of liquids, should be of warranted weight and capacity, that he may be certain of the proportions of all ingredients, so that he may neither exceed or come short of the quantity required, as this would render the remedy either inert or poisonous. ij. He should also have his warranted Books of Art authorized by a master, so that he may be cunning in the judgment aud science of the wise and skilful Physicians who have preceded him, and who have written with authority in the Cymraeg, the Latin, and the Arabic. Xif. He should be also declared competent to practice by authority of the wise and learned masters of the art. Xiij. He should be a kind man, gentle, mild, meek, intelligent, wise, and gentlemanly in act and deed, in word and conduct, being careful not to shame those whom he has to examine, particularly when he has to examine women.

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