The Syrups. 1537

Context

In Paris 1537 Servetus wrote Syruporum universa ratio. In this work Servetus demonstrated a deep knowledge of the Greek medical works of Galen but as a humanist, he did not hesitate to correct him, if observation proved him wrong. His knowledge of ancient and contemporary works was astonishing --he cites Galen, Hippocrates, Avicenna, Rhazes, Oribaso, Manardus (Giovanni Manardi, 1462-1536), Aristotle, etc. He reversed himself on the teachings of the Arabs, advising a critical approach to their works and did not follow blindly one school or the other. But in the theoretical analysis he supported the Hippocratic physiological and medical concepts. The problem concerned the use of syrups for digestion, called at that time, the "concoction." The Arabs supported the idea that the syrups enhanced the independent vis concotrix, whereas the Hippocratic school, supported by Servetus, followed the idea of the vis medicatrix naturae: "... there is no need of the syrups for the normal concoction (digestion) if the organ is not affected: in this case sleep, rest, massage, baths, drinks and foods moderately warm are sufficient."

Some excerpts

"Syrups are neither worthless nor should they be accepted blindly"

Prints

Syruporum universa ratio, ad Galeni censuram diligenter expolita. Cui, post integra de concoctione disceptationem, praescripta est vera purgandi methodus, cum expositione aphorismi: Concocta medicari. Michaele Villanovano authore. Parisiis Ex officina Simonis Colinaei. 1537. (Several editions of the work appeared, in Venice in 1545; in Lyon in 1546, 1547, 1548).

Translations

English: was published by Charles David O'Malley, Michael Servetus. A Translation of his Geographical, Medical and Astrological Writings with Introductions and Notes, (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1953), pp. 55-167

Spanish: Razón universal de los jarabes segun inteligencia de Galeno por Miguel Villanovano (Miguel Serveto). Traducida al Español por el Dr. J. Goyanes Capdevila ... Madrid, Imp. de J. Cosano, 1943). And by Ana Gómez, Tratado universal de jarabes, Madrid, 1935