Anglo-Saxon Medicine (Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England) [Paperback]

Malcolm Laurence Cameron (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521031222 | ISBN-13: 978-0521031226 | Publication Date: November 23, 2006

This is the first book to make a comprehensive study of Old English medical texts. Professor Cameron compares Anglo-Saxon medical practice with that of the Greeks and Romans from whom the Anglo-Saxons borrowed freely. He analyses the position of physicians in society, the conditions under which their patients lived and the effectiveness of their remedies. He examines the ingredients of Anglo-Saxon prescriptions, their therapeutic efficacy and availability. The role of magic in medicine is dealt with in depth, but found to have played less part in medical practice than has sometimes been thought. Special attention is given to surgery, bloodletting, gynaecology and obstetrics. Professor Cameron concludes that Anglo-Saxon medicine, on the evidence of surviving texts, was as good as any previously practised in Western Europe. The author has written with the needs of medical historians and non-specialist readers as well as Anglo-Saxonists in mind. The numerous quotations from the surviving texts are given in English as well as in the original languages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is the first book to study Old English medical texts. Professor Cameron compares Anglo-Saxon medical practice with that of the Greeks and Romans, analysing the position of physicians in society, the conditions under which their patients lived and the effectiveness of their remedies. He concludes that Anglo- Saxon medicine was as good as any previously practised in Western Europe. The author has written with the needs of medical historians as well as Anglo-Saxonists in mind: all quotations are given in English as well as in their original languages. -- Book Description --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

This is the first book to study Old English medical texts, comparing Anglo-Saxon medical practice with that of the Greeks and Romans, and concluding that it was as good as any previously practised in Western Europe.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521031222
• ISBN-13: 978-0521031226
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,168,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Interested in Anglo-Saxon or Medieval Medicine?, December 15, 2011

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This review is from: Anglo-Saxon Medicine (Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England) (Paperback)

This book has been very difficult to find. As someone who uses Cameron's work as a major source of their research, having this book is essential. I am so happy to not have to run off to the Univesity library to order it anymore!

Cameron is one of the first authors to consider Anglo-Saxon medicine as a legitimate and worthwhile study for those interested in the history of medicine. The reservation of other authors to write more extensively on the subject is related to the unusual components within Anglo-Saxon remedies: namely what we would identify today as magic. Some authors that have written on the subject, such as Marilyn Deegan, tend to focus on the archaeological side of Anglo-Saxon medicine. Others use them as a source of evidence for magic and religion. For example, Karen Louise Jolly used Anglo-Saxon remedies as a way to approach religion in late Anglo-Saxon England. Cameron, however, reconciles the magic in Anglo-Saxon medicine by devoting one specific chapter to the subject. The rest of the book is dedicated to the exploration of herbal remedies for various ailments.

This is a fanstastic read for those interested in medieval medicine or Anglo-Saxon studies. Cameron does a decent job of staying on point, and the chapter organization makes research projects on the subject easy.