Galeno's De Pulsis et Urinis from the Casinensis Codex 97
Iorio, L.; Avagliano, F.
Journal of Nephrology 17(2): 319-323
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-8428 PMID: 15293537 Document Number: 569047
Between the end of the 9th and the first decade of the 10th century, two medical codes were produced in the Cassino area: The Pluteo 73.41 manuscript of the Laurenziana library in Florence and the Casinensis Codex 97 kept in the archives of the abbey. They are written in Beneventano-Cassinese language and are enriched with drawings of plants and animals. They were most certainly used for the teaching and learning of medicine. On pages 26-31, there is Galeno's De Pulsis et Utinis, that is presented in the form of ''Epistola'', containing 30 chapters in which the characteristics and variations of pulse, fever and urine are described in different illnesses, thus influencing the prognosis. Galeno's manuscript De Pulsis et Urinis, as well as his other manuscripts contained in Code 97, have an important role in emphasizing the writings of one of the greatest and prolific doctors of ancient times who laid the basis for medicine in the East and in the West. The source is most likely Sergio's which belong to the medical school of Costantinople (his death is known to be in 536); he translated all of Galeno's known writings in the 6th century.