Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Beliefs About Humansexual Funcionts in The Middle Ages

    Uploaded by

    Corinne Meléndez
    4 views12 pages
    .

    Original Title

    Beliefs about humansexual funcionts in the Middle Ages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    .

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    4 views12 pages

    Beliefs About Humansexual Funcionts in The Middle Ages

    Uploaded by

    Corinne Meléndez
    .

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 12
    (1, Roupemon Lone ithe Wer Word p. 2, make end Dame and pcs Sonal tebe Teast Arnal qe pb wu cnt, nro “Gus pda on de satin ‘mt perm f= gnome ond pane sho ‘Pein ost Ses sea he Sut abegs orn copy or cin. . 6, Panter “Dano ack pp 9132, sn Dante Cian ibe of peak ‘Sent peta ene! tthe ant Ven "oor i ve men creat Mew, ce bere 5 SeeBewn "Ci cnt ue Ramee ‘Quando fle nl cne ete chin. BELIEFS ABOUT HUMAN SEXUAL FUNCTION IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND RENAISSANCE Thomas G. Benedek ‘We want fo examine the major beliefs about human serual anatomy sd function that prevailed during the Middle Ages and Reasiance tnd some of ‘the medical practices that were elated to. these behets istrially. thee were not "Medieval bei,” because vitally all were cient and underwent very tle evolution om at leat the second 19 {he 16th century. Most were deeply ingrained in te folklore ot oaly of Europe, but of substantial porns of Asia as well and were hot restricted (o the intelligentsia. Certain of the anatomic and physiologic ‘ideas were enmunicated by Hippocrates inthe 4th century B.C. and the ‘majority were accepted from the writings of the second Sentury Rot plysician, Claudius Galen (ea. 12901), Four ilstrations of female anatomy will demonstrate the lach of Drogress in the undersianding of anatomic sirsctare and relationships well into the 1th century. The fists very primitive end fave been drawn in about 1400," Essentially the same lesson war Used in the Fasiculus medicinae of Johaanes de Ketham, in 1491.% We see slmost_no true proportions or relationships, The’ gravid ates sppear as an inverced Mask and isnot ilfereatiated from the vaginn, A fetus i almost standing a Knobs on te sides ‘of the sbdomea ae the i sare shown ‘The next illstration i from the second edition ofthe same work, which was published in 1495, Ths isthe easiest known istration thal ‘may have been based on 2 human dimecton,” The intestines have been emoved and the vagina has been opened anterioey. A rather sccurstely drawn cervix ean be seen and the gonads also are lily Well placed. The ‘range horizontal siructures are a thigh bone, bat the alleged horas the uterus. The “horas”, described ‘by Galen, probably: based on disections of goats, almost certainly were the fallopian tubes. © Becaine ‘of misinterpretation of the ifalible autbory, Galen, uterine "horns rere par of the feminine anatomy ual the midde ofthe Téth century. ‘The diagonal stripe is unusual, especialy in view of the distinctions tht “ Dip Sigur seygee an’ paar Soaoeses maealrece a. were ascribe othe Fight and let ses ofthe body, Presumably, the agrenmase indication of the veel through which the brest wat ‘ned receive bind or menstrual fuk which converts into ai “Tae tied aiuration comes from the anatomy of the. German physics Johannes Dryander (50013), published in 154, The legend awl —_ : “Tas igure shows the inleral configuration of «vom Including the genta crgans, the seminal vessels, and. other ‘Slormaton: A'S the post bio! artery (aorta) from which al, ‘Sher organs ae noua Dis the white seminal artery (ovaia” Sey "CC ‘uerine artees from which the Tear aso Soured DD are the feminine gonads E. The feminine gonads [re cmcoted Ins, which sm par the gonadal and in part he cramer. The poron of the wens ich resemble he ‘Nigel te bladder” G The portion of the werus which 1s memhed othe back and adjacent (auctures. The ternal use af the womb. T-The outermost pordon of the womb (Cer, the pubs, Ky Trunks or tranches ofthe arteries ofthe sgh M,N Ureters from the Keys O Both dae. Wwe nse the ors of wer hy er coceptuly es Mpls than he doplay of the bod vessel The anmmery of 1 ‘ntsn seins here shown accurately. The right ovarian artery std ei, pectvely, comet withthe sorte and vena cava. The Tee ovasan nde are symmetcal from the aorta, Dut he let ovarian vein eter METH renal vem. The same relationships are true athe internal esac vesels a males The msiaterprtation of hese anatomic ‘Sidtonhipe ao originated with Galen = (Ve fafa) "Tae fourth ihustation appeared in he obstetcal texto Jacob Rett (sa N35) The lene orm are even more masave than on the (rtoor tro ileatons andthe relative siz of the kidoeys ad ovanes E'Sowa les reaisealy then by Dryande. The badder defected to he Migne Sr anowe correctly anterior 1 tbe utes, The relationship of the ‘IRN, adeno cave reverse from the previous istration, and heeft weet However: intend ofthe let ovtran vein entering the lft renal Sethe mutt ovtin vin entering the lft renal vein, the ight ova Trip sown branching from the ight renal rey. Te must erp mind ta snot i ot econ (at ood circle" Wiliam Harvey (5761657) poblsbed tht epoch ma ‘Sicovey in 1608 Arteries mere correctly Sisingushed from veins by the SSfeace nthe thoes of hi wall bot money wth be Ble hn Catryclopealy arteries come from the Heart and eis from te ther and that arena Blood Hows out ofthe hear and venous ood out al tie heer The question how the supply of blood is continoxaly Stoleished if there & no circulation was lta mystery of Nature I one pus the premise that Blood does not citculate i bevomes ear © 103, ce te hypothe ight elt sile ilertom each oter Phrologicaly. soe kryear ha wiht cin some anton informaton soul esa he Egham rer a an oF ‘ana by Tomas Vinyl) saa peed 1S fis pd re te ai tone Soames at so Meet Si. asin Tatas nae milena Ky cae Seca ppe e pec vn strat niet ee as iemmeigattcieeetae ees ee Spears bene aeons ‘Eel Umut ft wry es hay weg a psa a setae ec Felence fanet ie a in eth e o eel a Tae a em Renae Seta gets oe aes igen ee ee hth Sa yb ene Beas ee be ee ee et Eros on ati cea aa Srcos freuen ra Heer ae tae Se ee Senet ture SRnSh tore teeter Pra a Gade nated: eee Shean haw se eae Se SS: aes ES oe ee Soe Sani'oclubsr Sattar a pa Scape fr eng Wa a sa ae Sate Sar tet cine yaa es Soiigg vie teeaaranrajeuaeom me © ha te ilo Gelato va any, pn shal alta rete Rett, Eterna ce arenes ‘en's ata pasa ak ct ky rn eee i Ear hn Sch fas seen pec cease ee eee Seemann 104 ‘According 1o Viety, the female tence bie inthe sides ofthe ou mouth, premmaiy mesaing the lab majors. Galen and mos oer ‘Taher Go snuomy were more acurate, i tat they ented thse ® idin the sodomen, The female spermatic vesls are shorter than thee of these, sad tthe fie of colton the woman's perm ‘Sed ate bottom of the womb. croial sel develop i he lowing manne: ‘hs spon that comer both of a and woman it made and other afte test and purest rope of Mood in al the body: bythe rand chalng of he eles hs boo stared iit apotuee Kind and made sperm” And in man itso, wate nd tick, wherefore it may no spread orn abroad by ill ‘ct rus dd ates tmperaace of he woman’ sperm wich hat onary qualities: for he woman’ sperm tthinner, collet and feeber och pnt orga in one scx was consigred to have its analogous ‘rg nthe fhe sex The most surprising ofthese analogies i between thera sd the pei. The greater het the male em cates the ‘tl truce to become everted sad to matore aspen while the {EScr heat of the female cmbryo leaves the stare inerted and Internal so ht itmatres st terus The wera as beeved to be ‘outed iteranly. Galen and snow ter wt on human saatony {ined that theres eght ond ef “cll wile ome of te Slertan ‘Ghoataributd fine of sonen col othe wer Galen lo equated the mmber of sell with numberof nippies, pd ppronimately with the numer of fetuer that might be conceived" One rato fo he Mata ot the womb to be wermor than the let har been deserbed finely Unt it's nurated by ured and, teeter, warmer blood. Tiowevees there. was a sevondary enue ofthe alleged temperature fiference, The ver, onthe ight deo the abdomen was belived fo Be ‘rm and homie the spleen, om the left ie, vas “cold and Gry The relative pony of these orp to the to ses of the ‘Tn fori gcentated the dtference the tentperture within that “rum, ‘Tin ference betwen the “ol” was a cri dterminaat of tiehex ofthe ete “Sone the mae nrc to bass the spr nd on epemeral mater which Vay te Supt est” andGalon had ealed "innate ‘Risa energy which mines the sale and Temele sperm ad bring ‘Ruut ferubrion” Once ferianion has occured, the “Kindly, heat itis a second fealon I case the annie membrane o develop, to ease ie embryo and then to become avache tothe womb, The floceta was, of couse, recognized, bu twas not isingushed rom the ‘mercalnions about the factors which determine the sex of ein 10s ancient Hippocrates only stated that “The male foetus is usualy Seated in the night, and the female ia the let we Howeree the ina bei about st ctenaton fom Galen well yond te Renasance contained upto tree components, to which varying degrees of importance were atrbuted: These were the location af the eens ‘rom which the fered germinal cel came, he relane vigor the arenis, and the sit of implantation of the embryo. Various pile ambitions were used to explain the devslopmeat a ellemtosteBoysot fmasculine girs Believe inthe seven cell, tems ate ‘ermaphodis to implantation inthe muddle cele! The 11th centary Benedictine, ‘Constantines Alene (ca H01SIGN7) clesay fallow) Galen in writing 1? te warm semen fal the cervix and reached the ef side, i wil engender « gi, and if reaches the ght Ses 8 boys ough it huppens sometines tat the vine of wan dststed Some doctor ay that ithe semen which comes from the Fight side ofthe maa falls in the let se‘ the wom ‘produces a boy, but an ellemnate ones whereas ifs semen rom te et ie false igh, shakes ¥ maseine pe ‘The potential parents had (wo means 10 lence te scx of the chil, an these were derived (om the foregoing bees If intercourse wer performed inthe side positon, ori the wean least ued ae terse immediately after intercours” the sex ofthe child would tend to ‘associated with the dependent sie. Lying on the HEM de would ‘vor procreation of boy, ing oa te left Sde-a i Vicary conceived of intrauterine developmcat the folowing way ‘he fist things that are shaped are the principals: the Heat Liver, and Brae. Of the Heart srg the Arr. ofthe Liver the Veins, and of the Brain the Nerves. And when these re ‘ade, Nature makes and shapes Bones aad wisest Keep and Brotect them, as the bones of the head fer the Brake, the Breastboncs andthe Ribs forthe Heart and the Liver, adi ster members pring after hese, one after another Aad ts is {he shld bread forth in four depron, a tus’ The fet whea the said sperm or sed isa the rst ke mh the second when ie turned trom that Aid into anther, yet beng a ep Dood. The tnd degree i when the principal ie shaped, as ‘he Hear, Liver, and Brain. The fourth and ist is when all the ther members have been perfec shaped: then receives the foul with lie and breath: and then it tesas to moe by feel. ‘Now in these aforesaid degrees. nthe first as mil, W continges {even iy in the second at Foetynine day in he ra lamp of flesh engendering the principals the space of nine dag and the fourth, unto the ine of Tall perfection of al te whee ‘members, isthe space of 18 days. So tere are 46 day (a) rom, 106, the day of conception unto the day of fll perfection and revving ofthe sou. ee ‘According fo Vieay fic and fat are added the skeleton and the ‘cera dae to mation desved from he meal Bod He dors nt “pain eter aspects of fetal aura, mle mos autheres abated {he nourshment of the embryo and fetus enirely (0 retained menstrual {leds wasn ierenty Topical ies not only does the mens dlucharge cee during normal pregnancy an, bene, might be diverted {nternally. bu vaginal hemontage dure pregnancy usually presages 2 ‘Mental blood was not only believed to provide part or total sourshment ofthe ets, but according 10 Vicary ike Galen. was the ‘hv material which the reas convert ino milk in wernen there come fom the womb into their beass many Sis which bring into thet menstrual blood, which turned The egerve vie) from red color into whit, tke the color of the beats, even at chyle coming rm the stomach the vers {raed i te olor ofthe ve. ‘So muh for anatomy and embryology. Now let ws proceed to ieas about serual avy and how {might be flacnced by medical or other Imeans “Efforts tp litunce sexual acuviy can roughly be divided Into fhe categories ‘These have not changed over the centuries, 1. Tar Drovement of fertiy, this was condoned fer both sexes. however, it Primary perained t0 women, and improvement of lactation may be cluded ithe same category. Agena 10 improve fertily must be ddstinguished trom category 2 aphrodsies, which ae intended 10 {improve the infrext fn and aby Yo engage in sexual intercourse, These fended for men, although afew were als reputed {Soe of we to women. There were ancaphrdiins for both sees 4 Senvoceptves munly for women, and 5" agents to induce abortion Regards of time or pce, it imposible to estimate how widespread {he ue of may agent in ayo thee catorics may have been ‘ony of the methate anedsted Christan Eruope or originated in ‘Asia tres, Met of them were ingrained in lore in one region oF Soother and were not erable bythe vehement aatrsexulattede of the Medieval Cate Church, ven though Iwas the dom force in Europe The writings of St, Augustine 254430), although hey fa ite tfucnce at fit formed the tis of ths policy. Brel since Gietay and serual grtficalon are aecesaty, respectively. for he ‘Siva ofthe individual and of mankind they are moral sh hg #5 hey te cared oat in moderation. Enjoyment of ell doesnot male eating colton sinfl. Noverhees, virginity or celibacy were considered ‘ore virtuous. than intercourse for the sake of procreation, and recourse finally for pleasure. was siaful, Avgesine considered fmavage to" have’ three ‘goals procreation, mutual fel. and m exmanence, Fieiy meas no only lyin seal trou or Shelpuron of rorening cle Das ihe sea ence Cera near fun ech es Peace we eee ‘tic iercoune."™ Gren tough caine ar aled hens shove procreation war come letar'efaskge eee ae ‘pote eed nieroure the oer ves Shed opens °F Scour was tbe mga an ot races hequene Fore. Gregoy 1 a4) amended the kon doce by soning tal fern cat of enon ey ceca "na Theta dng tn Dutt hae ane as Neda ed gc accent pent Se Thon Aas 12) ahd ha centr ser Olga, robes weet ‘neat clon to teltace ¢ El dope pra es However. he dete oe erent frie snes cf tel el sista het econ hs Sales eed sd eae Aphrodics “he moral question of the we of means to enbance fri ested in a quandary which reccned Hite dscusion, The fio on whi ‘odieal practices were ‘based id not ings clearly ‘bem ‘medics which wee believed to inprove fri witout ering Sosa Pleasure Sad aphrodkiacs, that ny ngets Whe ct to increase the Expacity for sera intecoure and ie enjoyment. Means to cnhanes feriy were oaly sepa, bt saancouteaanceent of case woud, neverielen, have made the wor of Such methods sll ‘here appear to have teen no consent ‘ele about mets 1 sahance erty in ether ex in contadsinton to aphrodisiacs, sme of hick had length trios, : ‘ett a and about aphretincs form a lange subject by themes sl stanot te tmined comprehen he, Those medicttenswee Imor ten prescribed at mixtures of susterous beanie! medic Bot ‘ome imal substances were used ag well, Proriptions were eter it {he form of medicines or fous. According to Constantius Acanus the deat aptirodiine is authious, warm, tot and penertes windness Reiing on etomen ppc tat “warthpr te ay erate het wat the most important charsterstc. Because ef fle scan rary at dade f warmth, Constantine ‘and many other author, cited. for example ‘PeDer. mustard sed, ginger and anise Some inprodiats gained prestige fom having to be imported. such ar ginger an ater, pistachio au ters were mesyesterc and ere pet fe preseripion 10 increase price Cast i ps lege 1 be neo in or instance, according 10 ine, "Atested electuary wich icrescs ht” wes «Bodh whlch 108 ‘contained 19 ingredients, one of which was a dram (about a teaspoon) of ‘rds tongnes Like various Inter authorities, he claimed to distinguish between substances which rimelate the generation of semen, that i Emprore fealty, and aphrodidace which ostensbly were intended 10 Counteract impotence. 1 have been usable to distern any consistent ‘Stterence between the preparations which were prescribed for these to eee Tiana pode tnt wore comida phen wee pore of mp nd we eer ered ctre mapa CST tie terse eg on of a ope was comme foe cota Tree piace ‘Maimomides (1135-1204); ey a gd Spe some of hi Cataldo an "el ange eta tat wre pubes nee te end of he sey Sova oye aa Mt (S097 ay he ian rd stench comin a eu © pl Estee utp of wich wa 1b en mining so incu ne oo ac Smee eect inehctog ass ofs boc ta nd he sy poe) ot Sein eae TSE me conjeladr ts cooi sould ae te pei of ‘ogee Ui when ye ay nd pod 2 fot ie Sade S gm fis and ate 9 em of Leap it en peter ina omy see Ti elicit rig Taken seven day to ow Tia al oop = “he mst gl rout prs lwo tve 1 be he wer tow el eset Grek oe ker ie ab See icy ta ad heath doef ee ced ele Tita Sc same fey of pnt They ed te ‘orice fom he alee ramble o mae ent tbe san peti coniicre pene tate erie specs esol, ‘Shean 18a em centry Dominoes santa anon he disinguted pens mo mete SESIUPEN SEATS tsa aby Ts ee! oes Seta tt" him tat he ae fe to tab ‘Sita wee mator epee en) 2 ins schoo ast tra eng of women Hyon, cide at Wt wat ites sou te eden of ital Sulancan pred pesominny be ones of tea lapoeneo caon, na the prec Lc gira cece tne pny mere TES Prt men shoot to miner» remedy tt 1m cpr The fanny cmap comes om 8h ete Seman To sera stimulate someone (Ls, voman) with whom you ese to ve inercoune, take two spoonfuls verbeey wise 12 cope corse rom ag ster anal ee wee asics together with homey ao ha hed dak i ‘in. when Jou wil ant oo ou il erat A fw airs Si acknowledge, witout npuging hr may, hat {one women ae particulary fncrted in seal ain: Aconiag to {80 Th century French surgeon: Aare Pas 210 180) Those women tht are speched {0 freckled) inthe face, some lean ‘tnd ‘pale because they ‘hive. their cesta ‘osened wih a sash, sharp "and teiag ham, af mae {eno venery tha hose who te od ot ‘This statement protay meant that Pare os acted to sim freckled ome sa a he fel ged o fer a pagination fr {his However, nomen inthe teh centry o ong cual be tego 1 having sonal doses entirely in he Onis wich ney test ‘esl fl cms caer. ctr Pe, woe ee to taloguard men, Sects of the tes phys atie tolerate celibacy, He put his sell-aeving idea as follows: * he sesh fecing of veneroou ations seta to be given by Nature to women, not only forthe propagation of icing ee the conservation f main, but ao omic a msuage he isis of man's fe an were by tne Sncement of tee Poa; lo the rent tre of hx od that abou thse ‘rewith men abound, makes prety to ths purpene whe nputon of imagination whic Tle he humors, eg eneg bythe proper passages down fom the her and coals te ‘eat at dw ser op tm new as the numerous concoctions which were claimed t improve the forty of yomen most have no dneribecaplaaton, The posoot recommendations which perined 10 some ef them ‘ee mca ie, while ettace "was whey foparied bes sl ri eto) a rs ge tie Conception and oe wots txt for pgm. Aca fa ‘entry obstetrical guide, climed by its author 1o be ew ediion of ‘Abert Magn Seer of Women Hole nwt ape oa oman to i ona empty somich, She wilbecome abit concave. Shold she homers sr BPEL the drink, she is pre a i - rot was popularly hed fo have aphrodiacal effects fr men, but Join Gerard node ot tat sisicss fren the rots balled and eaten, of oiled with wise, andthe decoction drunk. lp good forthe pasion ofthe mother dhlpthconepion Authors occasionally amied to uncertainty about the eects which 0 they reported. Thus, we find ia avother Eaglsh herbal. peraising (0 ‘sptragts, which alo was considered to bea male aphrodite The decoction threo... sireth up bodily fst ima oF woman, althouph some have witen the contrary. that i hindereth ‘Conception and eauseth barenesse. Lactation Numerous remedies were recommended to stimulate lactation and to facie murng. Some Comsisted of applications 10 the ress, whe Shere were oral medications or dieche prescptions. The folowing ‘xampt of topical remedy in interesting i that combines symbols of {arty and of cosines an aprodaa, and an analgesi sedative "Tue woman should tind her brea with woo! soaked in ol of sehite es, or ol of volts, io which mush, frankincense and Tandan are zed." Lenco, nmong it several roles im jnfluencing sexual fonction, was teitoved by some To simulate lactation. According to the Toth century ‘German pharmacopocs of Adam Loniter (1528158) “Thee lettuce seas give much milk to the nurs when they eat ikem: and prniuce an Unblemised face. Lettuce ta is good for the’ women who sure ther ciren and do aot have enough mile Their ib wil fcrease if they drink Hof mix ito thir dink.” “The many remedies for nursing women were aot necesaiy intended for the now mers, Wet nurs. were in demand, ih Scusuence of he gh mara may ae bin ab 3 SiaasSynba. Tae high perinatal morality rate undoubtedly contribu {othe avalabilty of wet nurses. Pare recommended onthe one hand "That all mothers would nurse their owse children were realy fo be wished forthe mothers mike i fare more falar ourhment forte iafent an that of ay other none. Baton the other ban Many husbands take auch pitty on their tender wives, that they prone nurses for their cule, tat unto the pains tat they have sustained in bearing them. they may not also ade the twouble of marig them. “The diferent mags ia which a pseudoscientic ererion was employed, alt in diferentes, shown sicely inthe importance that Sint accorded fo her complesion in selecting # wet use, According (© ‘Troma he ith centory Saletan woman physician, “The nurse ought to be young and ave a pink and white complesion™ © Half «mileium Inver Par disagreed must not have a red oF freckled face, but brown oF SGmewont shadowed or mised with rednesn For tly, sch ‘Nomen are more hot than those that are red in the face, bY seen wher they mut needs concoct and tar er meat the better ato tod. brows womaa as more mi Tn sates eteion forthe scetion owe bie we aga fd on ‘pein of te perenne promale prejudice Namely, the woman wg ects Decate the fad born a ton wa retractor wh kad ‘ating to Queen Blzabet of Asana aad Hisnguy, Goce the ‘pending dlvery he queen 40 ar fom home “Two honorable des "came to her Gace snd Gogh two Bich scedants wth them. One war «idea the eke was the eae ewe i ht here mh a8 ‘Se, Rees the wie men were Wie opinion ha esi of sma mAs who has born 8 som is better on fe mike tlt Femained rele Inte In the nex ceatry, when Ambre Pare cian to the bso the Oneness tout Boy heat He ‘That aurse that has born 4 man child is to be prefered ‘lore anther because her mike the Deter concocted the heat of the mal i doubling the mothers best. And moron, he Sromen that re ret witch female cid weber elned {ndin beter strength and better abet do anything al he ne ‘fei greatness, whch prover the some! tad moreaner te ‘Hood's more budabl nd Se ik beter ® Anti aphrodiiacs Methods to counteract the sonal eve became inportatbecase of the emphasis that was pled on caibacy, beginning tthe Tih ceatey ‘Some ofthe clea! eplaons tat wer lnened to mann celta smear hes bared mali tee, or ates Gent shtot, Regio’ of Prim (91) advocate the flowing sche, eh “is ao adopted into AngioSaron law: marie Couple wes to ea Setnte for 40 days telore Een. Pesca tnd ‘Chsinas, om edness, Fridays and Sunday ngs, for atlas thre day BIST ‘ich communion, and from theft indiation of prepncy val afer ‘tv = Such admoniton led to acmatons bY mere ikea sey Ata he coneraves were yng to det heist fant ‘The residents of the sumerouh monastery and onveay ting wader, ‘ows of celbacy, were perhaps in even grestr need af medical upon of ther chastity than maried couples The use of emtraphrodiacel ‘eens wat "no overly peaked by thelogians, but hae as aot ‘condemned, m= ” wees ‘Antraphrotsacs! qeites wore stituted to sever plants Dioscorides ia the Int century AD. is pharmacopos was the so resinous of he Middle Ager, ad ence he apron contre o> articular confidence tn these. Te alowingSevaipions te Hows Th m ‘century translation, Rue had a particularly large number of medicinal tses, is chief indkaion being as an antidote against various paso [Rsconding fo Diowoties: “wtf good nptne serpentine, & either faten or drank it extingubeth geaiture”” Rue was the only ant Sphrodisiae mentioned in the extant portion ofthe Regimen of Heath of ‘Sllemo, the best Known Medieval medi! text I tates that Fink containing sage, roe and roses "..vill vehement lesen your love” ‘Without sapliicaion, the comment was added that "The rue ats a8 an ‘phrodisiae wth women and as an antiaphrodisiae with men." Tn the [etal of Hicronyms Bock (1498-1554) we find tht "Rue belong tothe group that simulates urine, However, i itis toed roqulry abolishes reno dsie All esideats of clisers hd monateries (who wnat foe celibate), end aropualyextal that they keep themlves pure, aced i repulasy in their food sad drink. “Vasou elfcts on sexual functions were attbuted to lettuce. Even in the 1th centry it mas considered to have a soporicelec,* andthe tlrable bebe! In ts antiaphrodsise action was probubly relied to this Diowcories sated that lettuce seeds when they are made info 8 tea “ert wanton deans & venere. The jute ao i good forthe same purposes yet weaker Accordig to Louie: "When on eas fo0 much Ietce one ges dark (around the) ees, tnd sbolhes laciviousness One should also under hou the seeds and decotioa (of tetace). ‘Many more botanicals coald be cited, but the one that wes held in the greatest extem for many centres was Vitex agnos stun, which was alo Kowa in English ar the Chaste Tre. Alberts ‘Magnus attnbuted an atrseaual elect to Blossoms, leaves and julce frien any of them were ingested as «component ofa prescription. His Spanish contemporary, Atmabd of Villanova (125S1319) claimed tha ven carping 2 kale with a andle made of wood of this Bush was {elable © Assording to Lanier: "Whoever puts these leaves underneath himsel in his bed has ama urges driven out. It'may be that the mts om which Franciscan monks ie are made of. "A hat teaspoon of these litle berries crushed into wi indoces menstrstion, deperses Matlence, and extinguishes the ‘esr for marital streourse. = [A fow yes ltr John Gerard described the effets ofthe “chaste tee” fellow "Kens casts i singular medicine and remedie for such as swouide wilingly lve chaste, fort withtandeth ll unless, oF SSive to the Hesh, consuming end drying up the seede of {encration, in what sort soever it be taken, whether in powdet| {nly or the decoction drake, or whether the leaves be caried 13 shout the boy: for which cae twas called Cas hati Si Sept reported that if ach a josey a el do cary with them branch orm of Agar cunt ad il Ke ‘them from merry gals, and weariness. * elena We ive a purty clear came of the mitre of medicine and ‘manic nthe ways ths plan was employed Thre sm dence hats the abtaphrodaal pacices Cli hve had pheseacclons es toa heyy fave fen at some ai Sy he pose a Contraception. Soe sexta intercoue tthe bet was saved from being siafl when vas intended torent m impregnation, contraceptive prcces vee ietom, Hower nfm conceptne ‘mere sesraly wor ot canigtd as ves many othe sn- Aion Boscorties ho sitiuted comracopive proper to sever of plants which were desribed in is herbel, much less was wien shone Eontricepion” in. the Ewropean. Civitan cure han ator ‘simulation or spprenion Of sexal dees: Tn Fea, tne es “crates wh Went he Heda Hira un a Hdd ures ei, of cure, imperil to eatin bo wideapreed soy ot thee prctoes wee, but they cera cou ot haved epee oo {be ith rate, The pcp erry sources aout cemracepings i {ie wring of two Persian physica, Rhsuy (O95) and Avice (06107; Ti ter was the more important both becase hs wrk tet more entaine and that vas tanned ne Late ne ee ‘aya cemay bere the it ralaton of Races Undoubtedly, the mon equeny teed contcepie method, and the one mos ily to have bees clesine, war cots aaropeas ihes functional methods were advocated ar well “According ty Aiteres Magn, for oe he female spetie pion inerteres eth concep Tetnse "perm the semen to cep eter Sern” A Wey fe be iat oignted a ‘vous pe of vigorous ates immediatly afr te conpletoeat Intcoune coll ste the semen owt In ti rept sea SiS oe vn were spy hana Howe, sur pein ig eect For stance, Avicenna rec "he woman sha nate nd of at an jump backs? 9 times Im this way the sperm may oie ou mpg sad iain orward ease the sper tein” ‘belt which perhaps reed tein of efoyag sera intercon with the betetin the contraceptive elect of sgotoy movement ye ‘oman ster intercourse ‘wa hal women ae Mone “who move tet tole body while they ave intecoure, trom an exces of Tehipwounss™™ it ice of pesasie were meatoned which were ited ur funtion, avoid conception, or both. These were and ae ee aat by Setog comisted of cabage anes Wc ha Rica soued wid cabbage seed, sit, and/or cor o.® One may seen MSS, Uopsting on the sow sad pion of ch mache) BUC iigel pal tnpdinent fo coneponanaloon 0 Bipactgaowete 7a Way ha fant -magi mete sere ed re ose which might Hav hd remote Foun of tes mopical methods were physically associated with wei, aa ie hom of Vines nat hte rove a's wma ni come flora month te as heal eon tag cls dite eng tote omit er tl SCAG "ea pra epost yo ck es clo heer een, tort hare, ot rps eter ryote, wee common aleve ofr Samim! he'toutezpe eel tat vas rsinied to Fon b more ‘Mitcul io explain, since this metal han alvaye been associated With ‘Ate Rte insane, chimed tat worn who on ave rae Ar tts war mich asa gueshcd Batons Sere erate wendced oe Simply ening on Mags es Titel he tefave ne tame reat nthe Near Ens nt least, male contraception ao was writen about ‘ae fas aly Contd of scating the pei ah some Sr Re atthe trl? Heim er pened et cme, star a'not qn toch se sul two centres ter to ste anos ia the fw doerpton of such a deve. was curl Sie laataanom Sabie Palio (900156, eho sey may Yr hig eid te tes Oro hich be ‘eae ea a aie a ih seni wean ofthe Sond oe a sad sree, At dating Ses ote 2 conte. TTRES Santhedepevent yi rer hn concn, igen as wien a Eaope show cmincepon ts to sean rd, Un thy. were mal ba ae pes SSINDs Wit loner? aly icretatos mnt seclaive, seems Bey eat wa wetter soa contceio ene tes entation ih pepsncy sete ken more ou than Se tr seal mesons wasnt 10 be engaged fot ae spe retain) wis cll» paricnmagil Ne ces eae Sisco mor us Abortion. This brings ws to the lst and most confit ue: abortion. The fact that people for thousands of years have desied to abort some Pregnancies Is evident from the stitement in the Hippocratic oath, Sompored in the 4th century, B.C. “I wil nt give {0 a woman a sbortve remedy.” Sacha seaieace would have teen teaninges the ‘medical lore of that tine id not tready inclode methods that were reputed to induce abortion. ‘The methods that were employed by the ‘socieat Greeks and Romans remained in we inthe Middle Ages and he Renatsance without much chaage- They may be dived into four

    You might also like