The medical background of Anglo-Saxon England : a study in history, psychology, and folklore / [Wilfrid Bonser].

  • Bonser, Wilfrid, 1887-1972.
Date:
1963
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: The medical background of Anglo-Saxon England : a study in history, psychology, and folklore / [Wilfrid Bonser]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/492 (page VIII)
    extent of the medical knowledge possessed by the Anglo-Saxons, their methods of diagnosis, which were most elementary, and their treatment of the sick. For their methods of cure they relied upon folk-medicine, written prescriptions, many of which had been translated into the vernacular from Latin, prayers, and magical or quasi-magical practices. A description of non-medical magical practices in pagan times has been added to show the atmosphere in which the Church had to work when it took over the task of caring for the sick. This book, therefore, contains matter of interest to the physician, the historian, the philologist, the archaeologist, the folk-lorist, and the medievalist in general. It has been difficult to write an inten sive study on a subject which involves so many varying technical details, although one of the chief interests has been the wide read ing which it has entailed. As a University Librarian, I have had opportunities that are denied to many specialists, for I have come into contact professionally with the books on all the subjects involved, and as a member of a university community been able to discuss my problems with those who have special knowledge of its various aspects. I wish to record my grateful acknowledgement for information and advice to many who have helped me with this work during the long period of its gestation, partly in London and partly in Birmingham. During the earlier period, the late Dr. Charles Singer and Mrs. Singer placed their collection of treasures at my disposal with their usual generosity: and Dr. Margaret Murray and the late Professor J. H. C. Grattan and the late Professor S. J. Crawford were most helpful. During the later period Dr. J. F. D. Shrewsbury, Pro fessor of Bacteriology, and the late Dr. G. A. Auden, Professor of Public Health, both in the University of Birmingham, gave me invaluable help, especially on the medical side; in fact the book would not have been completed if they had not worked through various medical details with me. And finally I owe a great debt to Sir William MacArthur, who has unstintingly allowed me to use his knowledge and experience in the chapters on epidemics and skin diseases. This work was accepted for publication in 1949 and proofs were corrected in 1954. The long delay in publication has inevitably resulted in certain anomalies. I am indeed grateful to Dr. F. N. L.