Castigationes seu Emendationes

Folio IX.

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...Nicolaus, Arnaldus de Villanova original: "Arnaldus a Villanoua," a 13th-century physician and reformer, Cristoforo degli Onesti original: "Christophorus de honestis", Gerard de Solo original: "Girardus de solo", and Gerard of Cremona original: "Girardus Cremonensis," a prolific translator of Arabic scientific works into Latin.

The two sects of Barbarian physicians:

the Scholastics and the Sophists.

Fourth Division.

Decorative woodcut initial 'S' with scrolling floral and foliate motifs.
Scholastics, or those who are stubbornly attached to ancient ignorance, are the champions of old errors and are contaminated by the filth of barbarism. To these men, surely, the gods have given the ears of an ass much more justly than they did to Midas In mythology, King Midas was given donkey ears for his poor judgment. For although better crops have been discovered, they continue to defend the acorn A classical metaphor for clinging to primitive ways instead of modern improvements; nor do they wish to return to human form along with Gryllus original: "gryllus," referring to a companion of Odysseus who, turned into a pig by Circe, preferred remaining a beast to becoming a man, as they are those who find it pleasing to dwell forever in a pig’s dunghill.

Decorative woodcut initial 'S' with floral and vine patterns.
Sophists are physicians who bring about deaths through false logic and clever quibbles. Indeed, if you strip away their flattering speeches, their remarkable trifles, their Thrasonic original: "Thrasonicã," referring to Thraso, a boastful soldier in Roman comedy boastfulness, their magnificent pomp, their many rings, and whatever else belongs to their effeminate manners, you will discover not physicians, but mere butchers and cobblers.

Medicine is twofold, even if Galen The most influential Greek physician of the Roman Empire wished it to be threefold; hence Ausonius A 4th-century Roman poet says: "There is also a threefold form of healing, which..."