Theodorus Priscianus (Greek: Θεόδωρος ὁ Πρισκιανός) was a physician at Constantinople during the fourth century, and the author of the Latin work Rerum Medicarum in four books.
Priscianus was a pupil of the physician Vindicianus, fixing the period of his life in the fourth century. He is said to have lived at the court of Constantinople, and to have obtained the dignity of Archiater. He belonged to the medical sect of the Empirici, but not without a certain mixture of the doctrines of the Methodici, and even of the Dogmatici.[1][2]
Works
The Rerum Medicarum Libri Quatuor, or "Medical Matters in Four Books", is sometimes attributed to a person named Octavius Horatianus. The first book treats of external diseases, the second of internal, the third of female diseases, and the fourth of physiology, etc. The author, in his preface, speaks against the learned and worthy disputes physicians held at the bedside of the patient, and against their reliance on foreign remedies in preference indigenous ones.
It was first published in 1532, in a folio edition at Strasburg, and a quarto edition at Basel. Of these the latter is more correct than the other, but not so complete, as the whole of the fourth book is wanting, and also several chapters of the first and second books. It also appeared in Kraut's Experimentarius Medicinae, Argent, folio, 1544, and in the Aldine Collection of Medici Antiqui Latini, 1547, folio, Venet. J. M. Bernhold published a new octavo edition in 1791, at Ansbach, but only printed a first volume that contained the first book and part of the second.
Priscianus is generally identified as the author of a short Latin work, entitled Diaeta sive de Rebus Salutaribus Liber, first published in 1533. fol. Argent., with Hildegardis Physica, and in a separate form in 1632. octavo. Hal. ed. G. E. Schreiner. The manuscripts and these editions of his work simply identify the author as Theodorus.[2]
Criticism
Of the Rerum Medicarum, Dr. William A. Greenhill writes, "Several of the medicines which Priscianus mentions are absurd and superstitious; the style and language of the work are bad; and altogether it is of little interest and value."[2]
References
^Theodorus Priscianus, Rerum Medicarum Libri Quatuor, praef. p. 81, ed. Argent.
^ abcDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 525 ("Theodorus Priscianus").
theodorus, priscianus, greek, Θεόδωρος, Πρισκιανός, physician, constantinople, during, fourth, century, author, latin, work, rerum, medicarum, four, books, contents, career, works, criticism, references, bibliography, further, readingcareer, editpriscianus, pu. Theodorus Priscianus Greek 8eodwros ὁ Priskianos was a physician at Constantinople during the fourth century and the author of the Latin work Rerum Medicarum in four books Contents 1 Career 2 Works 3 Criticism 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 Further readingCareer EditPriscianus was a pupil of the physician Vindicianus fixing the period of his life in the fourth century He is said to have lived at the court of Constantinople and to have obtained the dignity of Archiater He belonged to the medical sect of the Empirici but not without a certain mixture of the doctrines of the Methodici and even of the Dogmatici 1 2 Works EditThe Rerum Medicarum Libri Quatuor or Medical Matters in Four Books is sometimes attributed to a person named Octavius Horatianus The first book treats of external diseases the second of internal the third of female diseases and the fourth of physiology etc The author in his preface speaks against the learned and worthy disputes physicians held at the bedside of the patient and against their reliance on foreign remedies in preference indigenous ones It was first published in 1532 in a folio edition at Strasburg and a quarto edition at Basel Of these the latter is more correct than the other but not so complete as the whole of the fourth book is wanting and also several chapters of the first and second books It also appeared in Kraut s Experimentarius Medicinae Argent folio 1544 and in the Aldine Collection of Medici Antiqui Latini 1547 folio Venet J M Bernhold published a new octavo edition in 1791 at Ansbach but only printed a first volume that contained the first book and part of the second Priscianus is generally identified as the author of a short Latin work entitled Diaeta sive de Rebus Salutaribus Liber first published in 1533 fol Argent with Hildegardis Physica and in a separate form in 1632 octavo Hal ed G E Schreiner The manuscripts and these editions of his work simply identify the author as Theodorus 2 Criticism EditOf the Rerum Medicarum Dr William A Greenhill writes Several of the medicines which Priscianus mentions are absurd and superstitious the style and language of the work are bad and altogether it is of little interest and value 2 References Edit Theodorus Priscianus Rerum Medicarum Libri Quatuor praef p 81 ed Argent a b c Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology vol III p 525 Theodorus Priscianus Bibliography EditDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology William Smith ed Little Brown and Company Boston 1849 Further reading EditCurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel Histoire de la Medecine 1815 Johann Ludwig Choulant Handbuch der Bucherkunde fur die altere Medicin 1841 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Greenhill William Alexander 1870 Priscianus Theodorus In Smith William ed Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Vol 3 p 525 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theodorus Priscianus amp oldid 1044674998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
