Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 88

JOANNES ACTUARIUS (fl. 13th Cent.) Operum, tomus primus [-III]. Apud Joannem Tornaesium, & Gul. Gazeium 1556 Vol. I: 450 [30] pp.; Vol. II: 631 [100] pp.; Vol. III: 259 [29] 205 [3] 190 [2] 104 pp. 11.3 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 87

Volume I of this set contains Actuarius' De actionibus & spiritus animalis affectibus, eiusque nutritione translated from the Greek by Alexandrinus and De urinis translated by Ambrogio Leone (d. 1525) and edited by Jacques Goupyl (ca. 1525-1564). In "On the functions and disturbances of the soul-spirit," Actuarius discussed a number of different mental illnesses that could be attributed to dietary errors, bodily causes, fatigue, and intemperance. For patients so afflicted he prescribed diets, baths, and exercise. He considered the origin of the soul to be in the pneuma which was formed in the liver and united with the vital spirit in the heart for distribution throughout the body. He recognized five mental functions that distinguish man from animals: reason, understanding, judgment, perception, and imagination. "On the urines" was an influential book and had a significant impact on medicine of the Middle Ages. However, in contrast to later physicians, Actuarius placed great emphasis on the fact that uroscopy was only one method to be used in determining a diagnosis. He thought that urine was a filtrate of the blood and, as such, could be analyzed to provide reliable information in pathological conditions. He recommended that the physician employ a graduated glass vessel as an aid in examining the urine. Actuarius also made one of the earliest reports of hemoglobinuria in this work. Volume II contains the six books of his Methodi medendi here translated by Mathys. It is in this general treatise on medical practice that Actuarius reveals his active practice of Hippocratic principles. He believed in treating each case on its individual merits and spoke out against the polypharmacy of his day. Although an adherent of Galen, he did not always agree with him and he was successful in making Galen's teachings on the pulse clearer and easier to follow. He felt that venesection was of great therapeutic value and provided specific guidance for the best areas to let blood for various disease states. He was perhaps the first to detect and describe the pin worm and also wrote on colic and lead poisoning. Volume III contains his Composition of medicines here translated into Latin by Jean Ruel (1479-1537). In this comprehensive treatise, Actuarius discusses a wide variety of therapeutic agents, their uses, actions, and directions for preparation. In addition to this treatise, there are three works by Sylvius in the volume: Commentarius in Claudii Galeni duos libros De differentiis febrium (see No. 182), De febribus commentarius (see No. 178) and, De mensibus mulierum et hominis generatione (see No. 184).

See Related Record(s): 182 178 184

Cited references: Cushing A37 (Vol. III wanting); Durling 2571 (Vol. II wanting); Wellcome 30 (Paris ed., Vol. III wanting)

Gift of John Martin, M.D.