Account of the life and works of Maister Peter Lowe : the founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow / by James Finlayson.

  • James Finlayson
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of the life and works of Maister Peter Lowe : the founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow / by James Finlayson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    their true worth, and the dry humour of the closing sentences reteals to us the existence of a class of patients at that early time, which is probably even now not wholly extinct. The extract further illustrates a leading feature in Peter Lowe’s work. Again and again, he puts down methods and ideas which he had little or no faith in himself, for at that time the influence of authority was still strong, and the writer probably felt a great responsibility in wholly setting aside recognized methods, although believing but little in them himself; more- over, as we will see in future extracts, he was afraid that passing over or rejecting certain methods might be set down to ignorance or want of experience on his own part. Of the fluxion of blood at the Nose.— .... Iohn Lebot approoueth the hearbe bis malua or Agrimonia to hold in the hand on that side the blood floweth at. As also he counsaileth to write on the forehead of him that bleedeth (with his owne blood) consummatum est. Hieronimus Cardanus who hath more curiously than diuinely written, doth counsaile in great fluxe of blood to pronounce these words following, thrice ouer. Sanguis mane in te sicut Christusfecit in se, Sanguis mane in tua vena sicut Christus in sua Pcena. Sanguis mane fixus sicut Christus quando fuit crucifixus. This forme of cure by words I do not alleage here so much, for any effect I look shal ensue therevpon, as for to content a number of ignorant, arrogant people, who neither will suffer paine, giue leisure, or reward more expencesfor their health, but do ignorantly vpon presumptio imagine that all diseases should bee helped at their pleasure : To such people and to none other, haue I set downe their remedies by words, which I hope in some measure shall satisfie them. [Lib. v. Cap. 26, p. 183.] The following will appear “ fabulous ” to most readers, as it did to Peter Lowe, but here again, as explained in connection with the last quotation, he puts it down for what it may seem worth. Some there be who follow the opinion of the Egyptians in obseruing of dayes which are inuented by them, and are called dies Asgyptiaci, who were of opinion, if any had fallen sicke or been hurt in such dayes, they should hardly haue escaped : the which appears to me to be fabulous. Neuerthelesse according as they haue written I will repeat them I read in an old Philosopher Arabian, a man of diuers rare obseruations, who did remarke 3. Mondayes in the yeere to bee most vnfortunate, either to let bloud or beginne any notable Worke, viz. the first Monday of Aprill the which day Caine was borne and his brother Abell slaine. The second is the first Monday of August, the which day Sodome and Gomorrha were confounded. The third is the last Monday of December, the which day Iudas Iscariot was borne, who betrayed our Sauiour