Medical case studies (consilia medica) of the early modern period : great pox documented /
Bohdana Divišová ; translated by Frank A. Schultz.
- Amsterdam : Amsterdam University Press, (c)2022.
- 1 online resource
- Premodern health, disease, and disability .
Includes bibliographies and index.
Frontmatter -- Table of Contents -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Consilia Literature from the Beginning -- 3 Consilium, the Physician, Patient and Res Publica Litteraria in Early Modern Consilia Literature -- 4 Consilia on the French Disease -- 5 Conclusion -- 6 An Example Case Study from the 16th Century -- Index
Consilia played an important role in not only medieval but also early modern professional health literature. A literary 'consilium' consisted of a written statement of one particular case, including the patient's condition and disease as well as advice concerning medical treatment. In the sixteenth century, consilia literature was a common component of the practices of many eminent physicians. This is illustrated through an analysis of consilia from twenty-two different collections and anthologies by fifteen selected authors, who represent university professors, personal physicians, and urban physicians from early modern Italy, France, and German-speaking Central Europe. A closer look at nearly 7,000 consilia shows how important a link they were within the medical community. A detailed view of consilia intended for patients suffering from the 'French disease' reveals details about, for instance, the most common treatments for syphilis - mercury and guaiacum - alongside many other interesting and important details.