Medieval
medical literature has no more interesting example than the treatise
entitled "Thesaurus Pauperum," or the "Poor-man's, Treasury," written
by Petrus· His-panus,. who later reigned for a brief period as pope
under the name of John XXI (1276-1277). The birthplace of the author
was Lisbon in Portugal, and he studied for some time at the University
of Paris, where his learning earned him high praise. Prior to his
election as pope, he served for a time as first physician to Pope
Gregory X (1271-1276). Most of the remedies prescribed in this little
treatise are naturally such as had long been popular among the
peasantry, and the ingredients of which could easily be secured;
vegetable growths, plants, herbs and flowers, and certain parts of the
more common animals, served here, as in Pliny's day and earlier still,
as those most highly favored. Of the comparatively few mineral
substances whose use is recommended may be noted the red variety of chelidonius or
"swallow stone," for the cure of epilepsy; the powder of the "iris"
(probably an iridescent variety of quartz) was also a cure for
epileptics. Then we find, strange to say, a recommendation of such
costly remedial agencies as emerald and sapphire, either of which if
touched on the eye would heal diseases- of that organ. Cold stones
placed on the temples and tightly bound on were said to arrest bleeding
from the nose, and coral was a great help in syncope. For stone in the
bladder two mineral substances, "humus" and ' ' songie, ' ' are warmly
recommended (the former can scarcely be held to signify mere "soil"),
as are also "stones found in the gizzards of cocks" (the alectorius) and
those from the bladders of hogs. All these were to be reduced to
powder, dissolved in liquid, and taken in the form of potions. The use
of stones and coral rather as amulets or talismans than as remedies is
occasionally mentioned. Thus the loadstone, if worn, is said to remove
discord between man and woman;
