The Wonderful Art of the Eye: A Critical Edition of the Middle English Translation of his De Probatissimo Arte Oculorum

by Benvenutus Grassus, L. M. Eldredge

Overview

A thirteenth-century treatise on the theory and practice of ophthalmology, this unique work provides a window on what passed for medical knowledge of the eye during the late Middle Ages. Although little is known of the author, Benevenutus Grassus, he seems to have roamed Italy in the early thirteenth century as a medical practitioner specializing in diseases of the eye.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780870134593
Publisher:	Michigan State University Press
Publication date:	12/31/1996
Series:	Medieval Texts and Studies Series , #19
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

L.M. Eldredge was Professor of English at the University of Ottawa. Now retired, he is currently researching the history of medieval ophthalmology.

Read an Excerpt

The Wonderful Art of the Eye

A Critical Edition of the Middle English Translation of His De Probatissima Arte Oculorum

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By L. M. Eldredge

Michigan State University Press

Copyright © 1996 L. M. Eldredge
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-87013-459-3

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CHAPTER 1

THE WONDERFUL ART OF THE EYE

1 [p. 1] A grete phylosopher and a profunde phycycyane clepid Benuonucius Grapheus, after the sentence of be [of] olde auctors of phelozophie and of phisyk whiche he had radde, and after hys propre experyence the wych he had by long conty- 5 nuance of his owne practik yn dyuerse parties of the world, boyth yn hote regyons and colde, by influence and help of goddys grace, compilyd and made a boke of the sekenes of eyon and of her curys: and entitled thys boke and clepid it Deus oculorum.

10 Of the which boke yn the fyrst chapitre he declarith what an eye ys and the makyng berof [p. 2] after and also after his own seying: a eye is a rounde holow thyng, herde os the balle of the foote, [or as the new scowrid basyn] ful of clere water, set in the well of the hede 15 to minystre lyght to the body by influence of the vysyble spyrit sent from the fantastical celle by a synew clepid neruus obticus, with the helpe of a gretter light mynystryde from withoute. And conueniently ys the place where the eye is sett clepid the well of the hed, for the habundance of watery humors and teris, the 20 whych often yssu [cum out] ber bycause sumtyme of sorow and heuynes of herte, sumtyme of ioye and gladnes, and sumtyme for habundance [p. 3] of superfluytees of humors causid of cold. And forasmuche as euery naturall man hath such ij wellis,

11-12. the opinion ... phisitions S] ober opynyon H1

13-14. or as ... brasyn] not in any Latin MS

nature hath sett in euery hed ij eyon. Thus ban bryefly 25 shewid by this auctor what euery eye is.

Consequently he shewyth how an ey is made. Ffirst he rehersyth the opynyon of a gret leche clepid Johannicius and after he puttyth hys owne opinyon. Johannicius in his Ysagogys seyth that an ey hath vij tunycles, or vij cootis, iiij colors, and iij 30 humors. The first tunicle or cote ys clepid rectina, the secunde secundina, the thirde scliros, the iiijth aranea, the vth vuea, the vjth cornea, the [p. 4] vijth and the last coniunctiua. The first coler is niger, that is blak; the ijde is subalbidus, whytyshe; the iijde is varius, that is dyuerse in color; the iiijth is blancus, 35 yolow. The first humour is callid uitrius, glassy or like glas; th ijde ys cristallinus, like cristal; the iijde is albigenius, like the white of an egge. Thus sayth Johannicius.

But Benuonucius varieth from hym in cotys and yn colours, ffor as he seyth an ey hath but ij tonycles or cotys, as he hath 40 proued by hys anothomie of eyon; bat ys to sey by or kuttyng of a dede body. The fyrst cote he callyth "saluatricem," that is a sauyour, for it [p. 5] sauyth and kepyth the humors. < [f. 2] Yif the first happeth to be broke or thorowe anythinge ys perforate, and for that hole may not holde the humors of the eyzen, 45 wareborwe it seuwith that all the substaunce of the eyzen is wasted and the eyze withe his humors ys consumed. The tonicle of the eize ys that clere sercle the which to many it apperethe blak, to other appereth variaunce; and by the myddell of the eize ther is an hole, the which hole is said "pupilla," anglice the "appell of the eyze," bi the whiche the visible spirite comyng 50 bybe holwe nerffe, hathe his outegoyng, and taketh lyght of a [f. 2v] grete clerte. > The secunde tonycle or cote he callyth "discoloratam," bat ys discolurde or of no colour. Ffor as he sayth, in the ey of hymselfe ys propurly no colour, but dyuersytees of colurs bat

24. is S] omit H1

36. the] th H1

40. incytion S] inocyon H1

apperen yn the ey. For when the cristallyne humor ys nygh[t] 55 the tonycle of the ey, than the ey semyth of oon colour. And whan yt ys in the myddys, ban it semyth of another colour. And when yt ys depe wythyn, ban it semyth of the iijde colour. Wherof he concludyth bat the ey of ytselfe ys discolurd and hath no colurn propurly.

60 Tho men bat haue the humors lowe set and wythyn her eyon semen blake and bei see best [p. 6] for a tyme, but when bei cum abowt xxxti wynter or more ban here syght begynnyth to peyre. Thei also bat haue the humers set aboute the middys of the eyon, bei communly se wele yong and olde; and the colour of 65 the eyon ys meueable blak that we call grey. But often yt ys seyn bat in bis maner of eyon obtalmie, bat is derknes of syzt, and panniclus, that is smale webbys, and ober dyuerse dyseasis, whych shal < 1 > be declaryd hereafter, thei grow rather ban yn ober maner of eyen colourid.

70 But bei bat haue humours situat or set nygh[t] besyde the tonnycles haue eyen varied of diuers colours, and hangyn mych yn whitnesse and [p. 7] hir syght is not right goode neber yn yowgth nor age. Ffor yn bo maner of eyon haue bendyng humors of teris more ban yn ober; ffor when the uisible spirite 75 descendyng down by the holow synews fynde aboute the tonycle fresche habundance and plente of corupte humors, bei ben the sunner disgregat and dyssolued from the humors. Also ys the sight the feblere yn them ban yn bo that haue ber eyon meueablye blake.

80 In tho propurly bat haue grey eyon the syzt duryth better ben yn other, ffor the cristallyne beyng resydent yn the middys makyth the visual spiritys to [p. 8] abyde bere; wherby the glassy humore and the tonycle of the ey ys kept yn, bat it may not redely be disgregat and disparbolyd.

85 But yn bem that haue ber humurs depe downe, the whych

68. shall] shald H1

causyth the ey to seme blak, as I sayd before, better ban ober seyn for the depth of the cristallyne humor. Fro the spirite of syzt, commyng from the synew obtik, fyndyth the large space and fulfillyth all the concauyte of holownesse of the ey ere yt 90 passe from the glassy humor and the tonycle. But os ys sayd it dureth not in many to age, for comunly in thyes maner of eyen ar oftener gen[p. 9]dred cateract and fumous syzt than yn ober.

And as for the humors thys auctor and accorde yn. < [f. 3v] Ther ben thre humours of the whiche the first is 95 said albugineus for it is lyche the white of the naye of a henne. The secunde is cleped humour crislallyn for it is liche to the cristall. The thirde humour, humour vitreus, humour glasy, for it is liche white glasse. Wherfore it is to vndyrstonde that ther ys a maner holwenes in the ouer partie of optici nerffe, and that holwenes is full of water yelwisshe and departed in thre 100 partis and in thre diuisiouns: in kynde, in name, < not > in figure, and in felynge Wherfor the first spice in kynde of felynge ys liche the white of an aye. And the second as it were a fresshe gumme. The third hathe in felynge as it were swynes larde whan it is soden. And alle ben in substaunce and ben nought departed and ben in one figure, saue they haue a 105 distinccion in thefelyng and in name. Wherefor the first is that Johannicius albuginem, the secunde cristallyne, the third vitreus.

< Of the complexions of humoures and of the sub[f. 4]staunce of whom they ben nourshed. Therfor y saye that the complexioun of the first albuginosi humour is colde and moyste. The 2e forsothe is colde and drie, id est 110 cristallyn. The thirde is colde and drie, that is vitreus. But netheles it hathe lesse of coldenes than of drinesse; for his coldenesse is temperate into hete of blode, the whiche is in the eyzeleddes, be whiche is more nyz than any othir humour. And sithen that humour vitreus and cristallynus ben nourshed of the gummosite of the neruis, and the humour albugenosus is 115 nourshed of the viscosite of the brayne. >

Now after he hath tauzt what an eye is and how it ys mayd

93. Johannitius S] blank space left in H1

100. not] VP3, f. 97v, and P, f. 166, read "non"

and of the colour and of the humors of eyon, he consequently bygynneth to trete of the infirmytees of an ey and after of the curys. And fyrst he begynnyth to trete of cateract.

120 And after hys [hys] doctrine a cateracte is nouzt ellys but a corupt water or a water congyeld lyke a crude, gendred of humors of the ey, dystemperd betwyx the tonycle, and set before the [p. 10] lyzt of the eye and the crystallyne humor. And of this maner of cateract ber be vij maner of dyuers spices, 125 wherof iiij be curable and iij uncurable. And fyrst he tretyth of the iiij curable.

He seyth bat the fyrst of be curable cateractys ys lyke ryght bri3t whyte chalke or alabastre vele polyshyd and is causyd of a stroke yn the ey wyth a styk or wyth a stone or any ober out- 130 warde vyolence. The secunde cateractte curable ys sumwhat white and lykenyd much to a celestyal color, and this procedyth from the stomake and is comunly causyd of wykkyd [p. 11] metis, wherof a groos fumosytee resoluyd ascendyth vp ynto the brayn and from thens fallyth downe into the eyon. The thyrde 135 cateractte curable ys also whytyshe but it turnyth into the color of ashes and is comunly gendrid of the payn of the hede, as the mygrym and such other, and is causid of gret sorowe sumtyme and of grete heuynes cawsyng grette wepyng, and sumtyme of much colde and much watche and such ober. And the iiijth spice 140 of cateracct curable ys of sytrynne color and it ys comunly gendryd of exces meete and drynk yndegest, and also of gret labour and sumtyme humurs [p. 14] malencoly.

Thyes iiij spices ben curable, but neuer tyl bei ben grown and confermed with his signe; and the tokyn of hyr complexion or 145 confermyng is when the pacyent seyth ryzth nowght but yf it be bryztnes of the sunne by day or the mone by nyzt or a lanterne. And many lewde leches not knowyng the causes nor propertes

132-42. H1 p. 12 is blank; p. 13 repeats p. 11; a later hand (17th century?) in lower margin of p. 11 remarks: "after this page yow follow to the 14. page"

of thyes maner of cateracties weyn to cure bem with purgacions, powders, and plastrys, but thei be disceyuyd. < [f. 5] Forwhy 150 thoo cataractes ben vndyr the tonicles of the 155 the and the cristallyne humour; the which the Sarazyns and the Arabiesclepenhit"amesarca,"that is in Latyn "aqua putrefacta," in Englisshe "water yroted" in the eyze. Of the whiche it sheweth openly that they ought be holpon withe poudres neither with other medecyns yputte in the eyze, sithen the mater and all the humours of the eyzen withyn 160 the tonicles ben conteyned. > For thyes maner of diseasys may not be curid oonly by medycyns, neyther ynward or outwarde nor princypally, but by thys craft that ys callyd "ars acuaria," [p. 15] that ys to saye the craft of nedyl. In whych craft whoso wyll procede artyfycyally he must begyn thus:

165 Ffyrst he must porge his brayn with pelett callyd pillule Iherosolimitane, wherof thus is the makyng: Take turbite, aloes, epatica—of euerych an ownce; macys, quibybus, mastic, and dylle—of eche of bem a dram. And beete bem into pouder and confecte bem with the jows of rose, and make berof pelatis.

170 And when he hath youen the pacyent purgacioun, on the day next foloyng abowt ix of the clok whyle he is fastyng do hym sitte ouerthwart < a forme > , rydyng-wyse; and sytte you also on the stoke yn lyk wyse face to face. And do the pacyent [p. 16] to holde the hole eye cloos with hys oon hande, and charge hym 175 that he syt stydfastly styl and styre not. And ben blysse the and begyn thy craft in the name of Ihesu Cryste.

And with thy lyft hand lyft vp hys oon eylyd, and with bin ober hande put yn thy nedyl made berfore on the forber syde from the nose. And softly thyrl the tonycle saluatrice, and alwey

172. a forme S] omit H1

180 wryth thy fyngers too and fro tyll bou touche wyth the poynt the corupte water, the whych ys the cateracte. And then begyn to remeue downward from aboue wyth the poynte the sayd corrupte water fro beforne the syzth, and dryue yt down beneth [p. 17] and bere kepe it styl with the poynt of the nedyl as long as 185 bou mayst say iij or iiij tymes "pater noster."

Than remeue esely the nedyl therfro. And it hape to ryse vp ayen, bryng it down ageyne to the corner of the ey to the ere-warde. But here beware bat after tyme the nedyl hath towchyd the cateract bou schalt no more wrythe thy fyngers to and fro tyl 190 bat it be set yn hys place as it ys seyd before. And ban softlye drawe out thy nedyl as bou put it yn, alway thyrllyng thy fingurs to and fro tyl yt be all owte.

And anon make a plaster of coton or of flaxe herdis [p. 18] with the whyte of an egg and ley it on the [the] sore eye. And do 195 hym lye down in hys bed wyde opon ix days. After charge hym that he ster not hys eye all that tyme. And thryys yn the day and tryys yn the nyght, remeue the playster. And he to [to] lye yn a derke house. And for hys dyet the ix days, lete hym ete rere eggis wyth breed. And yf he be yong and strong, lete hym 200 drynk water; and yf he be yn age, lete hym drynk wyne medlyd water. Som byd hym ete fresch flesche and hennys, but we forbedde yt, for bei be noryshyng of mych blode—ther myght be gendryd yn the eyon that [p. 19] myzte be contrary to oure cure.

205 When the ix days ar past, make on the eye a tokyne of the crosse and let hym ryse vp and wasche wele hys face and hys eyon wyth fayr colde water. And after that doo hys occupacion that he hath to doon. And in thys wyse be curyd all the cateractis curable, and who that wyll cure hem oberwyse shall dyseyue 210 bemselfe, ignorant of the true craft of curyng.

And thys crafte aforesayde ys callyd the nedyll crafte, for it ys excercysed and don with the nedyll. But alway beware that the nedyll be of golde or of syluer or of clene [p. 20] Spanesh laten, and yn no wyse of yren nor of stele. And pat ys for the hardnesse 215 bat dyssoluyth suche as yt towchyth. Another cause ys for yf the cateract be harde yn drawyng down therof, the poynt myzte lyztely breke, for yron and stele arne frayle and brytyll, and so the poynt abydyng yn the eye myzte cause < a > consumpcion of the eye thorugth habundance of terys and gretnese of payne. 220 < [f. 6v] The third forsoth the nedill of yren more greuethe and more weyzth, and the pacient felithe his hardenes more than it were of siluer or of golde. But of siluer or of golde bobe ben full good for her clennes and her softenes, but golde moste clarifiethe for his dominium for it is moste in his propriete. >

225 Thys spyce of cateract is, as the aucter seyth, easely and sone cured. But yit bei bat ben cured seen not ryght wele, forasmuch as the [p. 21] humor yn the eye ys yn party dysgregat and dyssoluyd by the stroke and be bruser therof, whych stroke was cause of the cateract.

230 The secunde spyce of cateract curable, yf it be welle cured with the nedyl as it is seyd before, the lyzte turneth ayen to hys fyrst brygh < t > nes, for by purenes of the humurs whych be not dyssolued and also for habundance of the vysible spyrit yn the eye. And therfore tho bat be cured of thyes maner of cateract 235 [seen better ban ober that be cured of this cataracte] see better after then those that be cured of the other cataracte caused of a strook or outward blowe.

The thyrde spyce of cateract curable after that yt ys cured with the nedyl and the syght recouered, yf it dure not long yn 240 [p. 22] that astate < then let > it be holpen with ober medicynes, as with oure electuarie that we call diolibanum Salernitanum and wyth good dyet as yt schal be tolde after. The makyng of oure diolibanum ys thys:

218. a S] of H1

232. bryghtnes] bryghnes H1

240. then let S] lesse ban H1

Take olibanum ij vncys; clouys, notemygys, notys of Indie, 245 saferon, of eche lyke—that ys of ycche a dram and an halfe; of good castor a dram. Bete all thyes to powder and sars bem and confete hem togedder wyth claryfyed hony, and make electuarye. And of thys lete the pacyent resceyue yn the mornyng fastyng the quantite of a good chasteyn or of a walnot, and [p. 250 23] at eue to bed-ward as much. And for hys dyet < let him> vsyn dygestyble metys hote and moyst, whych engender good blode. And let hym beware of contrarius metys, and for cowes fleshe, ghetys fleshe, and eelys, and such ober, and specyally of rawe onyons, for they be specyally contrarius, as I have prouyd 255 be experyence. Ffor many haue come too me with cateractys not fully confermede: I made hem, quod he, to ete rawe onyons to conferme with the cateract, and they were sone spede. Wherfore, rawe onyons be noyows to the syzte. And yn wynter lett nat the pacyent drynk hoote wynes [p. 24] yn whych be put 260 sawge and rewe. And abstene he from commenyng of women, nor let nat hym com in no bath nor stew. And yff he wyll algattis bath hym, lete hym enter to a stewe or fat wyth the water of the decoccion of camamyl or ober swete smellyng herbys, but lett hym kepe hys hede without the wessyl bat the 265 fume cum not ynto hys eyon, for bat were noyous. The forsayd electuarye of diolibanum Salernitanum ys also good, as he seyth, to avoyde terys and to dystroye bem. And so yt ys also for al maner payne of the mygryme that ys caused of flume.

(Continues...)

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Table of Contents

Contents

Medieval Texts and Studies General Editor: John A. Alford,
Title Page,
Copyright Page,
Dedication,
Acknowledgements,
ABBREVIATIONS,
INTRODUCTION,
Biography,
The Nature of the Treatise,
Treatments,
Manuscripts,
Translation,
Dialect,
A Note on the Text,
Suggestions for Further Reading,
THE WONDERFUL ART OF THE EYE,
EXPLANATORY NOTES,
GLOSSARY,