Body and Soul

Medieval Medicine

Elements and HumorsBartholomeus Anglicus15th-c. ms(BnF Fr. 135)

Elements and the Zodiac

Bartholomeus Anglicus15th-c. ms

The Four

Humors

Blood

Phlegm

Black BileYellow Bile

L-R: Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Melancholy

Arnau of Villanova with Mortar and Pestle

Rome Bibl. Naz. Vitt. Eman. 1167

Doctor examining a urine flask

Bartholomeus Anglicus15th-c. ms

Master, student, and urine

flask (DeRicci NLM78 (f. 1r), Oxford, 13th-century)

Physician comparing urine to chart(DeRicci NLM78 (f. 42v), Oxford, 13th-century)

Urine Wheel

Urine Wheel

Albus color ut aqua fontis

White as wellwater, i.e. clear

Glaucus color ut cornu lucidum

Light blue/green/grey as lucid horn

Lacteus color ut serum lactis

Milky as whey of milk

Caropos color ut vellus cameli

Bluish-grey as camel skin

Subpallidus color ut succus carnis semi-

coctus non remisse

Slightly pale as a not reduced juice of meat

Remissus pallidus ut succus carnis semi-

coctus remissi

Reduced pale as reduced juice of meat

Subcitrinus ut pomi subcitrini non remissus

Pale yellow as of a not reduced lemon

Citrinus color ut pomi citrini remissi

Yellow as of a reduced lemon

Subruffus color ut aurum remissum

Slightly ruddy as an alloy of gold

Ruffus ut aurum purum intensum

Ruddy as pure intense gold