Towards a Comparative Hermeneutic of the Enchiridion medicinae (1549) by Alonso López de Corella and the Liber de arte medendi (1564) by Cristóbal de Vega

Abstract

In this paper, a descriptive, analytic and hermeneutic study of two medical treatises published at the beginning of the second half of the 16th century has been carried out: the Enchiridion medicinae (1549) by Alonso López de Corella and the Liber de arte medendi (1564) by Cristóbal de Vega. The first seeks to be a medical compendium whereas the second shows not only a propedeutic aim but also attempts an encyclopaedic account of all theoretical and practical aspects of medicine. Concerning their medical views, the Enchiridion seems to belong to the Arabic Galenism. In fact, it is even more traditional than the Liber de arte medendi, which not only should be considered as a typical product of the Humanist Galenism but may be considered the best of its kind. Both books are divided into three parts (the Galenic tres res) but the Enchiridion includes a small innovative variation devoting the second part to therapeutics instead of hygienedietetics in the classical way. Though the two treatises are traditionally orthodox, it seems that the Liber de arte medendi is more advanced mainly in terms of its avoidance of Arabic sources. However, the medieval type arabo-latin contents of the Enchiridion merit attention.