Manuscript fragment on parchment of book two of Avicenna's Canon medicinae as translated from Arabic into Latin by Gerard of Cremona; the section contained in the fragment details a variety of herbs and their medicinal qualities
Description:
In Latin., Script: written in a heavily abbreviated, Gothic hand., Decoration: each medicinal entry begins with a 3-line initial, alternating red and blue with penwork in the contrasting color. Headings at the top of each page in red and blue. Each column contains decorative borderwork consisting of elongated strokes alternating in red and blue with red penwork., Layout: in two columns of 68 lines each., and Damage: the fragment has been removed from a binding, where it possibly served as a wrapper. Glue and binding material are still attached to one side of the leaf; the other side is discolored with offsetting from the later book. A piece from the spine remains attached and reads "Bbb" [?].
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Avicenna, 980-1037 and Gherardo, da Cremona, 1113 or 1114-1187
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Medieval, Medicine, Medieval, and Medicine, Arab
Manuscript, in unidentified hand, on parchment, containing books 1 (1r-97v), 2 (98r-195r), 4 (196r-303v), and 5 (306r-) of Avicenna's Liber Canonis or Canon Medicinae. Book 3 wanting. Collection of short medical texts follows: "Distinctio mensuraru[m] [et] ponderu[m] ex breuiario alfebyr" (342v-343r), "Distinctio ponderu[m] [et] m[en]suratu[m] ex breuiario filii sarapionis" (343r), "Pondera medicinalia signa conati sum[us]" (343r-343v), and the Secreta Ypocratis (343v-344v): "Peruenit ad nos [quia] cu[m] ypocras morti ap[pro]pinquaret". Also includes incomplete alphabetical index of medicial herbs (a-c; leaves iii verso-iv recto) and index of Arabic names: Incipiu[n]t expo[s]itiones nominu[m] arabico[rum] Auice[n]ne (leaves 345r-348v; Alfirdafu-Zicibil).
Alternative Title:
Qānūn fī al-ṭibb. Latin, Liber canonis, and Liber canonis medicinae
Description:
In Latin., Title from opening rubric., Script: southern gothic textualis., Decoration: several large puzzle initials in red and blue; alternating red and blue two-line initials with pen flourishes throughout. Rubrication., Layout: 2 columns of 53 lines., and Binding: modern light-brown calf over pasteboards. Spine title in gold-tooling: Avicenna / Canon Medicinae / MS Saec. XIV.
Subject (Topic):
Medicine, Medieval, Medicine, Arab, Medicine, and Manuscripts