Medieval Medical Treatments: Couples thought that poppy testicles could improve infertility. Here is the reason
A new exhibition offers a look at the unusual and sometimes strange medical practices of the Middle Ages.
Cambridge University Library Exhibition, Curious treatments: medicine in the medieval worldIt exhibits medieval manuscripts, including a alleged infertility therapy, including a alleged infertility treatment obtained from poppy testicles.
The curator of the exhibition. James Freeman explains that the manuscripts “take you to the medieval bed and that doctors and healers have revealed strange and surprising things that they are trying to do well again”.
To help modern understanding, most of the historical recipes were translated for the exhibition.
Such an example translated from Latin comes from a 15th century manuscript compiled by a Carmelite Fris. It elaborates a recommended infertility treatment to help women conceive.
He says: “Three or four poppy testicles and half a handful of young mouse-cultivation [a plant also known as chickweed] And burn them all equally in a soil pot.
“Then grind and combine with the above -mentioned plant water, so that make soft pills in a hazelnut -style style and place them so deep in the special parts where they will touch the uterus and leave them for three days, while they should avoid gender completely.
“However, these three days later, he must have a relationship with a man and conceive without delay.”
Dr Freeman said that medieval medicine is not only superstitious or blind trial error ”.
He said: ı He was directed with detailed and sophisticated ideas about the body and the influence of the wider world and even cosmos.
“Various articles Curious treatments It also shows that medicine is not only applied by university -educated physicians, but also by monks and friarlar, surgeons and apprentices, pharmacists and plant experts, midwives and women and men in their own homes. “
The manuscripts drawn from the collections of the university library and Cambridge’s historical colleges will be exhibited.
The oldest anatomical images in Western Europe, rotating astronomical instruments, surgical diagrams and some will be some.
Especially a striking manuscript includes paintings of “vascular man” and “zodiac man” that illuminates how medicine and astrology are intertwined in medieval times.
One of the most beautiful manuscripts exhibited, York Elizabeth, Queen of England, VII. Henry’s wife and VIII. He belonged to Henry’s mother.
This rich illuminated book, Regime du CorpsThe Healthy Life Guide was first composed by his personal doctor for a French noble woman two hundred years ago.
Written in French, the Royal Family and the Aristocracy Language and Western Europe rapidly spread.
“Such a detailed health regime could not be reached for everyone except for the richest, Dr Dr Freeman said.
“However, the medical recipes added to the back of the book later uses the same spices and common plants found in more common recipe books.
“There is even a recipe for a laxative dust that wonders about Elizabeth and Henry’s diet!”
The free exhibition will be opened to the public on 29 March and will continue until 6 December and will continue with the preliminary reservation basis.
