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[Controversial interpretations of the Lorsch medical codex]
1Institut für Geschichte, Theorie und Ethik der Medizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. kdfisch@uni-mainz.de
Medizinhistorisches Journal
|November 20, 2010
Summary
This article examines Gundolf Keil's interpretation of the Lorsch Medical Manual, a 9th-century German medical text. It challenges claims about its origin, Carolingian health policy, and early references to penicillin and other therapeutics.
Area of Science:
- Medieval History
- History of Medicine
- German Studies
Background:
- Gundolf Keil is a prominent medical historian specializing in the Western Middle Ages.
- Keil published the Lorsch Medical Manual (MS Bamb. med. 1), a 9th-century manuscript from the Lorsch Abbey.
- The manual is considered a significant work in early medieval German medical literature.
Observation:
- Keil posited the Lorsch Medical Manual as the first medical book copied in the German-speaking region.
- He asserted the manual originated in Lorsch and reflected Carolingian health policy.
- Keil claimed the text included early medieval references to penicillin, glycosides, and hypericin.
Findings:
- This article critically evaluates Keil's assertions regarding the Lorsch Medical Manual.
- Interpretations of the manuscript's origin and content are subject to scrutiny.
- The study challenges the dating and specific therapeutic claims attributed to the manual.
Implications:
- Re-evaluation of the Lorsch Medical Manual's historical significance and context.
- Potential revision of understanding early medieval medical practices and knowledge.
- Contribution to the scholarly discourse on German medical history and manuscript studies.
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