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[Would not the Taenia be folium?].

M Cordero del Campillo1, J J Rousset

  • 1Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny Cedex.

Histoire Des Sciences Medicales
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

The tapeworm Taenia solium may be named after "folium" (leaf), not "solium" (solitary). Gothic script confusion between "s" and "f" likely caused this naming error in early texts.

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Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Classical Philology
  • Medieval History

Context:

  • The scientific name Taenia solium is widely used for a parasitic tapeworm.
  • The Latin word 'solium' typically means 'solitary' or 'chest', not fitting the worm's appearance.
  • Early printed books (incunabula) used Gothic script, where 's' and 'f' could be easily confused.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the etymological origin of the scientific name Taenia solium.
  • To resolve the discrepancy between the name 'solium' and the worm's characteristics.
  • To propose an alternative origin based on historical textual analysis.

Summary:

  • Analysis of incunabula suggests 'solium' in the worm's name might be a misreading of 'folium' (leaf).
  • This potential confusion stems from the visual similarity of 's' and 'f' in Gothic typefaces.
  • The authors argue the tapeworm segment was likely compared to a leaf, influencing the name in early medical texts attributed to Arnau de Vilanova.

Impact:

  • This research clarifies a long-standing etymological puzzle in parasitology and classical studies.
  • It highlights the importance of textual criticism and paleography in understanding scientific nomenclature.
  • The findings could refine historical interpretations of medieval medical and scientific literature.

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