Medicine and religion c. 1300: the case of Arnau de Vilanova

Attention is also paid to the inheritance of humoral complexion and, to a lesser extent, of acquired characteristics, such as eloquence. Planetary influence too is given its due to account for exceptions and congenital defects. Any doubts about the influence of the planets are dispelled by reference to Alexander, who inherited his father's appearance and temperament following careful planning. For a guide to these fascinating areas the reader will look to the introduction, but risks disappointment for it promises more than it delivers, primarily because its thrust seems heavily determined by secondary sources. One wonders whether consilia or the Sphere of Pythagorus would otherwise be mentioned, had they not previously been written about. This all-inclusive approach makes for a reliable and cautious but ultimately unambitious survey which hides the wood from the trees. Nevertheless, the reader will gain a good grasp of the current issues in vernacular medicine, but would no doubt prefer more discussion. An exploration, with examples, of how medieval medical writers covered embryology would have been preferred to a list of authors whose works contain passages on the subject (p. 32). In this respect reference could have been usefully made to Joan Cadden, Meanings of sex difference in the middle ages (Cambridge, 1993) or to the discussion and listing of scholastic questions on reproduction and sex in Nancy Siraisi, Taddeo Alderotti and his pupils (New Jersey, 1981). The author's cautious approach at times leads to a reconciliation of issues which may not harmonize as smoothly as suggested. The idea that early translators of learned texts balanced the needs of their vernacular audiences with the traditions of Latin scientific writing in order to improve vernacular learned discourse closes down further possibilities and nuances. Was there room, for instance, for any intellectual ambition on the part of translators to create a body of vernacular writings, especially since the author suggests that the translator translated another text in the same manuscript? The edition is carefully edited and accompanied by copious notes on language and on the Latin text. The comparison with Latin manuscripts, of which there are many, is helpful as is the paraphrase into modern English. More detail on sources and citations in the text would have helped further, e.g. that from Hippocrates on page 169 surely derives from Aphorisms V.31. All in all this is a cautious and careful work.