Evaluation and explanation in the biomedical sciences

LOUIS DULIEU, La medecine a Montpellier, Vol. 1, Le Moyen Age, Avignon, Les Presses Universelles, 1975, 8vo, pp. 386, illus., 150 F. For several years Dr. Dulieu of Montpellier has been publishing articles on the history of medicine there. He has now produced the first of three volumes on this theme; the second will deal with the Renaissance and the third with modem times. Probably the most important period for the history ofmedicine in Montpellier is the one under consideration here. The University of Montpellier, along with Salerno, was helping to disseminate and put into practical use the Greek medical learning that was being translated from the Arabic in the eleventh and twelfth centuries mainly in Toledo, and which was new to the West. Montpellier was already a reputable medical centre in 1137 and in the first part of his book Dr. Dulieu traces its development from this time. After discussing the origins, he proceeds to a description ofthe early medical school founded by statute on 17 August 1220, giving an account ofthe university itself, the chancellors, students, teachers, the teaching of medicine, the hospitals, the outstanding individuals associated with the school, the medical establishment and lists of graduating doctors in the twelve through fifteenth centuries. A brief conclusion shows how influential Montpellier was in Europe during the Middle Ages. The second part of the book contains a valuable register of Montpellier medical graduates up to the fifteenth century, and there are appendices listing medieval medical manuscripts in the Library ofthe Faculty of Medicine, and a bibliography. Throughout, the book is beautifully produced, with ample illustrations, many of them never before published. This is clearly an important contribution to the history of universities, of medical education, and of the medieval period, quite apart from its excellence as a record of Montpellier's first four centuries of existence. Dr. Dulieu and his publishers deserve our warm thanks for their product, and we now look forward to the next two volumes.