Minor prescriptions

Minor prescriptions handwritten by Nicolaus Copernicus

Original: University Library, Uppsala, sign. Obr. 42:52: Bartholomaeus Montagnana, Consilia medica; Antonius Cermisonus, Consilia; Franciscus Cavalla, Tractatus de animali theriaca, Venetiis, Simon de Luere 1514.

The presented collection includes prescriptions handwritten by Nicolaus Copernicus on one of the final pages of his medical book. These prescriptions pertain to diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, and their ingredients are mainly parts of plants cultivated or growing wild in Europe.

Further reading:

1. Kopernik Mikołaj, Pisma pomniejsze, Warszawa 2007.

[Prescription 1]

Advice against bleeding and coagulation of blood in the bladder according to John Matthew the Great from Milan:

There are cleansing agents.

Vomiting. Therefore, take six drachmas of fresh extract of butterbur, two drachmas of liposoluble substances, mix them and make a paste out of them.

[Prescription 2]

Equalizing humors

Take half an ounce of violet syrup, half an ounce of common henbane, three ounces each of decoction from mallow seeds, marshmallow, hulled barley, and swollen alumroot, and make a syrup. Similarly, take rose syrup with hyssop decoction.

[Prescription 3]

What brings relief to the kidneys and liver

Take half a drachm of diarodon, one drachm of pellets made from sorrel seeds, scruples of mallows and marshmallows seeds, dissolved in water of white sugar with wormwood, and make a confection.

[Prescription 4]

Take five ounces of summer sheep's milk, half an ounce of burnt sugar, mix them together; for drinking or for administering an enema against excess [humors]. Just as the iron tifera is contracted in the Phoenician manner.

[Prescription 5]

The same for the liver:

Take a handful each of chamomile flowers, roses, wormwood, and woolly thistle, and one drachm each of yellow sandalwood, spodium, and spikenard. Crush and put them in linen bags, which you will apply to the affected area.

[Prescription 6]

For the kidneys (adrenal glands):

Take half an ounce of rose, violet, and wormwood oil, less than one scruple of beeswax and vinegar, and make an ointment.

[Prescription 7a]

For blood clotting

Take a handful of chamomile, yarrow, and common mugwort, half a handful of dill flowers, boil it, soak a sponge with it, and make a compress on parts of the bladder (urinary).

[Prescription 7b]

Take as much as needed: oil from bitter almonds, white lily, and scorpion grass, and make a solution out of it, if it does not pass sufficiently through the catheter.

[Prescription 8]

Take one drachm of rabbit rennet and as much oil from scorpion herb as needed to make a salve for the pubic bone.

Similarly, one drachm of rabbit rennet and half an uncia of chamomile and horseradish water.

Similarly, with strong laurel oil.

Similarly, make a plaster. Take one handful of rue, half a handful of caraway, a pound of wine, two unciae of laurel oil, and boil them.

[Prescription 9]

Syrup useful for treating blood in urine

Take half a handful each of leaves and seeds of Plantain, seeds of Purslane, Myrtle, Grapevine tips, two drachms each of Licorice, Anise, and Fennel, half a drachm each of White Poppy seeds and Lettuce. Boil in four pounds of water until moderately reduced. Make a syrup with one pound of white sugar. Add one ounce of a powder prepared from half a scruple of Armenian Earth, Amber, and Sealing Earth.

[Prescription 1]

Consilium contra mictum sanguinis et eius congelationem in vesica¹ per Joannem Mattheum de Gradi Mediolanensem².

Diuertentia sunt³.

Vomitus. Item recipe cassie fistule⁴ nouiter extracte drachmas vj, pulparum sebestinj⁵ drachmas ij, misce et fiat bolus.

[Prescription 2]

Adequatio humorum.

Recipe syrupum violarum⁶ unciam 1 semis, fumi terre⁷ uncie semis, aquarum decoctionis seminis maluarum⁸, altee⁹, ordei¹⁰ excorticatj, alkakengj¹¹ ana uncias iij, fiat syrupus. Item recipe syrupum rosatj¹² cum aqua decoctionis hysopi¹³.

[Prescription 3]

Confortancia renum et epatis.

Recipe specierum diarodon abbatis¹⁴ drachmam j semis, trociscorum de spodio¹⁵ cum semine acetose¹⁶ drachmam j, seminis maluarum, althee¹⁷ ana scrupulum j, zuccarj albj¹⁸ in aqua absintj dissolutj¹⁹, fiat confectio²⁰.

[Prescription 4]

Recipe lactis ovillj uncias v adhuc tepidj, zuccari prius cocti uncie semis, misce; pro haustu vel clisteri expulsis prius superfluitatibus. Item trifera ferrata²¹ ex arte phenonis est

constrictiuum.

[Prescription 5]

Item pro epate.

Recipe florum camomille²², rosarum²³, absintij²⁴, schinantij²⁵ ana manipulum j, sandalli citri²⁶, spodij²⁷, spice²⁸ ana drachmam j, contundantur grosso modo et fiat sacculus²⁹.

[Prescription 6]

Pro renibus.

Recipe oleorum rosarum³⁰, violarum³¹, absintij³² ana uncie semis, cere modicum³³ et acetj³⁴ parum minime scrupulum j, fiat unguentum.

[Prescription 7]

Pro sanguine congelato³⁵

Recipe camomille³⁶, parietarie³⁷, senationij³⁸ ana manipulum j, florum anetj³⁹ manipuli semis; coquuntur et fiat ex his fomentatio cum spongia circa partes vesice.

[Prescription 7a]

Recipe oleorum amigdalarum amararum⁴⁰, liliorum alborum⁴¹, scorpioide⁴² ana quantum satis, fiat inmictio ibidem quod si non sufficit iniciatur per syringam⁴³.

[Prescription 8]

Recipe⁴⁴ coaguli leporis⁴⁵ drachmam j, olej scorpioidi⁴⁶ quantum satis pro unctionij super pectine⁴⁷.

Item coagulj leporis drachmam 1, aquarum camomille⁴⁸, raphanj⁴⁹ ana unciam j semis.

Item oleum laurinum⁵⁰ valet.

Item emplastrum factum. Recipe rute⁵¹ manipulum j, ciminj⁵² manipuli semis, vini libram j, olei laurini uncias ij, coquantur.

[Prescription 9]

Syrupus utilis mingendo sanguine.

Recipe plantaginis⁵³ et seminis eius, seminis portulacarum⁵⁴, mirtillorum⁵⁵, extremitatum viti⁵⁶ ana manipuli semis, liquiritie⁵⁷, seminis anisi⁵⁸, feniculj⁵⁹ ana drachmas ij, seminis papaueris albi⁶⁰, lactuce⁶¹ ana drachmam j semis. Coquantur in libris iiij aque ad consumptionem medietatis. Cum libra j zuccari albi, fiat syrupus. Da unciam j cum puluere quod sequitur scrupulus i semis boli armeniaci⁶², carabe⁶³, terre sigillate⁶⁴.

¹ It is suggested that one of the causes of the formation of kidney stones, according to Copernicus, was an excess of blood or spoiled blood in the bladder. Blood clots, when coagulated, turn into stones.
² Gianmatteo Ferrari de Gradi of Milan, a professor of medicine at the University of Pavia from 1432-1472, authored three works. His first work, Expositiones super vigesimam secundam fen tertii canonis Avicennae (Milan 1494), had three editions. His second work, Consilia, had seven editions (the first known edition was printed by Damian de Comphalonieiis, the second was published in Pavia in 1482, and subsequent editions were published without a place or date of printing, two editions in Pavia in 1501, Venice 1514, Venice 1521, and Lyon 1521). Copernicus probably knew the treatise of Matteo de Gradi, as he cites one of his pieces of advice on page 406r of B. Montagnana's book. Consilia was popular, as evidenced by the fact that subsequent editions were read, and only a few copies of various editions of the title have survived in libraries around the world to this day. The third and most popular work of Giovanni Matteo de Gradi was Practica. Today we know of nine editions from the years 1462-1560.
³ Among the types of medieval medicinal remedies, it is difficult to find the term "divertentia". J. Plezia, in his Dictionary of Medieval Latin, vol. III, no. 5, lists one of the meanings of the word "diversio, -onis" as a medical purgative (medicamentum purgatorium). The use of "divertentia" by Copernicus would confirm this meaning and expand upon it, indicating remedies that act by two methods: "purgativa" (purgative) and "emetica" (emetic) simultaneously. It is also likely that this term is synonymous with "emetica".
⁴ Cassia fistula L., also known as Indian laburnum or purging cassia, is an Asian tree whose pods and seeds were popularly used as a laxative.
⁵ Sebestae, sebesten, sebestes (Cordia myxa L.) – also known as Indian cherry or Sebesten plum, is an Asian tree whose fruits were used as a medicinal laxative. It was used by Thomas of Wroclaw in the 14th century (Practica medicinalis, p. 119, 199, 360, 438). Sebestens were used for diseases of the abdominal cavity, against inflammation of the bladder and kidneys. The pulp is the flesh of the fruit, but it can also be concentrated and preserved by cooking it with sugar, becoming a jam-like product.
⁶ Viola odorata L., also known as sweet violet, is a plant used in herbal medicine as a mild laxative, sedative, and pain reliever, as well as for its soothing effects on respiratory problems, especially in children. The flowers of sweet violet are used to make a syrup or tea, which can be added to medicines to improve their taste and aroma.
⁷ Fumaria officinalis L. (common fumitory) is an annual plant that grows throughout Poland. The herb of fumitory accelerates intestinal peristalsis, has a cholagogue and diuretic effect.
⁸ Malva silvestris L. - common mallow, wild mallow, or Malva rotundifolia L. - dwarf mallow. Leaves, flowers, and roots contain mucilage and are used as a medicine for digestive and urinary tract disorders. However, Copernicus uses the seeds, which probably have no medicinal value.
⁹ Althaca officinalis L. - marshmallow, mallow. This plant has a highly valued root in medicine, containing mucilage and many other valuable ingredients. The leaves and flowers also have medicinal properties, but in the past, seeds were commonly used. Marshmallow was primarily used in digestive disorders, as well as in upper respiratory tract disorders, and externally on wounds and ulcers.
¹⁰ Hordeum vulgare L. - barley. Hulled barley, previously soaked in water, was used in the treatment of digestive system disorders.
¹¹ Physalis alkekengi L. - bladder cherry. The fruit, and also the herb, were used as a remedy for urinary tract diseases.
¹² Rosa L. - rose. The dark red petals of the rose were highly valued, which we now identify as Rosa centifolia L., but petals of other rose species with white, pink, and red flowers were also collected, including Rosa gallica L.
¹³ Hyssopus officinalis L. - Hyssop. The herb of hyssop was used for lung diseases, cough, and sore throat. A decoction of hyssop with vinegar was used for toothache.
¹⁴ Diarodon (also spelled Diarrhodon) abbatis was a composite medicine (electuary, species aromaticum), which means that in addition to the main ingredient - rose petals - it consisted of over 30 simple medicines, including sandalwood, gum arabic, spike, cardamom, saffron, xyloaloes, cloves, and other plants as well as spodium, deer heart bone, and pearls. Diarodon was used for liver and heart diseases, stomach pain, lung diseases, and general body pain.
¹⁵ Trochiscus or trociscus is a type of pastille, formerly known in Polish as "kołaczyk". Spodium was a metallicum, that is, a mineral medicine, used in Arab and European medicine until the 17th century. Its synonyms include Pompholix, Tutia, and Antispodion. It was a contaminated zinc oxide - a white powder, also known in Polish as "białe nic" or "biel cynkowa". It seems to have been mainly used as an antidote for venomous bites. Trochisci de spodio was a compositum composed by John Mesue. In addition to spodium, it contained flowers, purslane seeds, licorice root, gum arabic, and other ingredients.
¹⁶ Rumex acetosa L. - common sorrel. Medicinal properties were attributed to the herb, roots, and seeds. Sorrel vodka (aqua destillata acetosae) was also prepared. Sorrel was used to treat scabies and lichen, snakebites, and hemorrhoids. It was also believed to break kidney stones.
¹⁷ See footnotes 8 and 9.
¹⁸ The Arabs were the first to use sugar to improve the taste of medicines; they prepared syrups, pills, and dragees.
¹⁹ Artemisia absinthium L. - wormwood. The medicinal part of the plant was the herb, which had a strong diuretic and cholagogue effect and increased the secretion of digestive juices. Decoctions, vodka, and wormwood oil were used as medicine.
²⁰ "Konfekt" is one of the old forms of medicine that contained a lot of sugar. It looks like a small piece of jelly.
²¹ There were at least two triferae - complex medicines - known. The first, Trifera magna, composed by Mikołaj Prepozyt, was recommended for female diseases. The second, cited in Dispensarium Coloniense, and called Tryphera minor phenonis prior Mesue, was similar in composition to the tryphera saracenica described in Antidotarium Nicolai. Trifera phenonis was particularly recommended for liver diseases. It consisted of all five species of mirobalans and several other plant simples from the East. The colloquial name trifera ferrata may have come from the fact that the crushed ingredients soaked in vinegar were dried on a heated iron plate.
²² Matricaria chamomilla L. - common chamomile. One of the oldest medicinal plants. In the past, not only the flowers but also the herb were commonly used in various inflammatory conditions, including inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
²³ See footnote 12.
²⁴ See footnote 19.
²⁵ Schoenanthos, squinantium, and iuncus are all synonyms for Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng – a species of grass known as "woolly fingergrass". The flowers, seeds, and roots of this plant were used as a medicine with hemostatic and diuretic properties. It was believed that the flowers were capable of breaking down bladder stones.
²⁶ Santalum album L. - sandalwood. It was introduced into medicine by the Arabs, who distinguished three varieties of it: santalum robrom, santalum album, and santalum pallidum or citrinum. A very valuable fragrant oil was obtained from the tree, used among others in cases of weakness.
²⁷ Spodium was a metallicum, or a mineral medicine, quite common in Arab and European medicine up to the 17th century. Its synonyms were Pompholix, Tutia, and Antispodion. It was a contaminated zinc oxide (ZnO) - a white powder, also known in Polish as "white nothing" or "zinc white". It seems that it was mainly used as an antidote for venomous bites.
²⁸ Likely spica inda. Spica inda, spica indica, nardus indica - Indian spikenard, nard kłosowy (Valeriana jatamansi Jones). The roots and rhizomes of this plant were a valuable calming and antispasmodic medicine, with similar effects to European valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.).
²⁹ Linen bags filled with herbal mixtures were used to apply to diseased parts of the body.
³⁰ See footnote 12.
³¹ See footnote 6.
³² See footnote19.
³³ Cera – bee wax.
³⁴ Vinegar was obtained by fermenting old wine. It was not pure acetic acid, but its aqueous solution contaminated with many organic substances. It was commonly used in the manufacture of medicines as a diluent, acidifier, softener, etc.
³⁵ See footnote 1.
³⁶ See footnote 22.
³⁷ Parietaria officinalis L. – parietaria, wallcreeper. The herb of this plant has strong diuretic properties. It was used for diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, for compresses for gout, as well as for rinsing the throat.
³⁸ Senecio major - Senecio viscosus L. and senecio minor, i.e. Senecio vulgaris L. - these plants were known and used. The herb, less often the flowers, was used for abdominal pain.
³⁹ Anethum graveolens L. – garden dill. Flowers and seeds have been used as a lactic, carminative, diuretic, eye inflammation and many other ailments. It was probably confused with fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mil.).
⁴⁰ Almonds, the fruits of the common almond (Amygdalus communis L.), and especially the bitter almond variety, were attributed with a laxative effect and were administered in diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Almond oil has been used for the same diseases.
⁴¹ Lilium candidum L. – white lily – or Lilium regale L. – royal lily. Roots, leaves, flowers and seeds were a medicine of versatile use.
⁴² It's hard to tell what plant this is. It is possible that it is already described by Dioscorides Scorpiurus sulcata L. or Ornithopus scorpioides C, scorpion herb, or bear chickpea (Coronilla emerus L.), abundant in Poland.
⁴³ Catheters, usually made of bronze or silver, have been known and used since antiquity. They were used to empty the bladder when urinary retention occurred, as well as to make medicinal instillations into the bladder. The term syrinx, syringa meant a reed, then, among other meanings, also a syringe and a catheter - otherwise known as a catheter.
⁴⁴ The prescription is for a medicine for clotting blood.
⁴⁵ Coagulum vitulinum is calf rennet, an enzyme in the calf stomach membrane. Hare rennet - coagulum leporis - was used less frequently, as the most delicate, for diarrhea and other ailments, drinking e.g. with wine and vinegar.
⁴⁶ See footnote 42.
⁴⁷ Pecten in the proper sense - a comb. However, R. Bobrowski (Lexicon latino-polonicum... with the addition of words in medical sciences used..., Vilnius 1841–1844, vol. II, p. 315), quotes Juvenalis: pecten womb in the body under the belly, and according to M. Plezi (Latin-Polish Dictionary, vol. IV, p. 57), is an old medical term for the pubic bone, found in Celsus, Pliny and Juvenal. The term pecten is also found in other medical works of the Middle Ages, e.g. in Mikołaj from Poland (Brat Mikoaj from Poland, medical writings, published and explained by R. Ganszyniec, Poznań 1920, pp. 150–151). When describing bladder diseases, Mikołaj writes: ...nec urinam emittendo et quod calidis iuvatur et frigidis leditur; et si habet frigiditatem circa pectinem..., which the publisher mistranslated: and when he does not urinate, warm things bring relief and pain cold things; if it's cold near the comb...(!).
⁴⁸ See footnote 22.
⁴⁹ Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib. or Cochlearia armoracia L. – horseradish. The bark was used as an appetite stimulant, in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and as a diuretic. The decoction was recommended for rinsing the throat.
⁵⁰ Laurel oil, from bay laurel - Laurus nobilis L., obtained from fruits boiled in water.
⁵¹ Ruta graveolens L. – common rue or Ruta montana L. – garden rue. The raw material was leaves and seeds. It was used as a diuretic and choleretic agent and in women's diseases.
⁵² Carum carvi L. cumin, common caraway. The seeds of this plant have a carminative and antispasmodic effect, stimulate the appetite.
⁵³ Plantago lanceolata L. – plantain, or plantago maior L. – common plantain. It was an extremely popular drug. Leaves, root and seeds were used externally in ulcers, rheumatism, internally in diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and in toothaches.
⁵⁴ Portulaca oleracea L. – purslane. The medicine was seeds and herbs. They were used in diseases of the kidneys and bladder, against worms in the digestive tract and against hemorrhoids, diarrhoea, in women's diseases.
⁵⁵ Myrtus communis L. – common myrtle.
⁵⁶ Vitis vinifera L. - a vine whose shoots (caprioli vitis) according to Tomasz from Wrocław had an astringent effect.
⁵⁷ Glycyrrhiza glabra L. – liquorice. The healing agent was the root, recommended as a diuretic, laxative and expectorant.
⁵⁸ Pimpinella anisum L. – star anise. Ripe fruit has been widely used since antiquity as a diuretic, lactic acid, antispasmodic, and digestive aid.
⁵⁹ Foeniculum vulgare Mill. - fennel. Fennel fruit has been widely used as a carminative, for the kidneys and for eye diseases.
⁶⁰ Caput papaveris, capitellum – immature head of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.); Opium, lacrima papaveris - poppy juice from Papaver somniferum L. Contains e.g. morphine, codeine used as an analgesic and antispasmodic.
⁶¹ Two types of lettuce were distinguished: Lactuca stiva L. – lettuce, used in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as a milk-propellant and as a libido enhancer; and Lactuca silvestris - poisonous lettuce, used e.g. as an antidote to a scorpion sting. The medicine was leaves, fruits and milk juice.
⁶² Bolus armena, bolus armenus - Armenian clay, a sedimentary rock with aluminum, silicon and oxide compounds, colored with red iron oxide, hematite. It was used in diarrhea and hemorrhages and as a remedy against the bites of poisonous snakes and other poisonous animals, as well as for sealing wounds.
⁶³ Caraba - one of many terms for amber.
⁶⁴ Terra sigillata - white seal land, Turkish land, Saint Paul's land. It is white kaolin clay. It was mined in the East with a special ceremony. It was marked and sealed by the rulers of Turkey. This earth was thought to come from within the earth and contain miasma of gold or silver. It was considered an invaluable medicine against poisoning.

Original: University Library, Uppsala, sign. Obr. 42:52, k. 406r.

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