Urška Železnik (Author)

Abstract

The medical handbook De preservatione corporum a pestilentia, written at the end of the 15th century by the physician Giovanni de Albertis from Koper, provides a variety of interesting data depicting the universe of medicine in the examined period. In particular, through a clear review of ways to avoid the risk of plague contagion by livinghealthily, the book reflects late medieval conceptions of body, health and dusease. The presence of humoral pathology and miasma theory in the representations of the effects of the plague on the body, as well as of adequate preventive measures, reveals a particular conception of the disease. The tripartite scheme of 'naturals' (bodily fluids, organs, etc.), 'non-naturals' (food, movement, bathing, etc.) and 'contra naturals' (disease) generates a picture of causal relations wherein non-natural elements trigger changes of natural elements, which results in a contra-natural condition. The etiology of the plague that can be understood from the treatise describes that enters the body from the outside, through 'bad air', but only settles in under favourable conditions (internal imbalance of the body). If the body is to be healthy, for instance, it has to be cleaned of all waste and redundant matter. The active role of man in takingcare of his health is viewed primarily as the attempt to maintain the balance of the body, which can generaly be achieved through the application ofthe principle of moderation in food and drink, movement and rest, sexuality,proper hygiene, and other elements of daily life. Disciplining and 'management' of the body (and soul) are covered in the rules of the regimen, which represent an attempt to describe an integrated way of life.

Keywords

medicina;priročniki;kuga;pozni srednji vek;dietetika;humoralna patologija;

Data

Language: Slovenian
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UP - University of Primorska
Publisher: Centro di ricerche scientifiche della Repubblica di Slovenia
UDC: 930.22:616.981.45"14"
COBISS: 1248723 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1408-5348
Views: 2901
Downloads: 54
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
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Other data

Secondary language: English
Secondary keywords: Giovanni de Albertis;medical handbook;plague;dietetics;humoral pathology;late Middle Ages;
URN: URN:NBN:SI
Type (COBISS): Not categorized
Pages: str. 29-46
Volume: ǂLetn. ǂ17
Issue: ǂšt. ǂ1
Chronology: 2007
ID: 1739217
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