Commentary on ‘Isagoge’ on Galen’s 'Tegni', by Johannicius (Honein ben Ishak); and, commentary on the 'Aphorisms' of Hippocrates by Oribasius, both written by the same scribe in the 12th century and bound together at least from the 15th century.

File

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.3.13

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

(i) Commentary on ‘Isagoge’ on Galen’s ‘Tegni`, by Johannicius (Honein ben Ishak), incipit `Cum inter omnia animalia humanum corpus` (Thorndike-Kibre, col. 311). Frequent quotations from the text of Johannicius are included, incipit `Medicina diuiditur in duas partes idest in theoriam and practicam` (folio 1).

Folio 49 verso blank.

(ii) Commentary on Hippocrates, `Aphorisms’, by Oribasius, incipit ‘Afforismorum Ypocratis huius noue editionis ea causa extitit` (Thorndike-Kibre, col.113). The text breaks off at section 7, number 49, possibly due to loss of a bifolium. Frequent quotations from the text of Hippocrates are included, incipit ‘Vita brevis, ars vero longa, tempus acutum’ (folio 50).

Folios 125-126 blank.

The quotations are in a large script, with the body of the letters filling the whole space between the lines and written on every second line. In (i) the initials of the quotations are alternately blue and red, and in the commentary there are occasional paragraph marks in red, blue, green and ink. In (ii) the initials of both commentary and quotations are alternately green and red; the first in the former and the first in each of sections 1-5 of the latter are more elaborate, in both colours (folios 50, 51 verso, 72, 75, 82, 98).

Folios iii and v, pastedowns in a former binding, are cut-down leaves from a 14th-century manuscript of extracts from legal codes; each paragraph begins `De iure civili’ or `De iure canonico`, with alternate red and blue initials. Folio v is from the top of a leaf, folio iii from the middle. 2 columns, more than 54 lines.

A contents-list by Sir James Balfour is on folio ii.

Dates

Creation: 12th century.

Extent

1 Volumes (iii (2 paper) + 126 + iv (3 paper) folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1-6⁸, 1 leaf (half sheet), 7-15⁸, 16⁵ (1, 2, 5 half sheets; central bifolium possibly lost). Signatures: a-q, with folio numbering i-iiii in each (iii in 16), in lower right-hand corner, 15th century. Foliation: 1-49 in (i), 1-75 in (ii). Pricking preserved only in inner margin. Ruling in ink. 2 columns. 39 lines in gatherings 1-3, 35 in 4-6, 40 in 7-16. Text area 192-198 x 120-124 millimetres, 12-15 millimetres between columns.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Vellum. Binding of brown sheepskin, tooled blind, with two clasps, mid 17th century (rebacked).

Custodial History

Denmilne number 7 is on folio i, and Denmilne mark on folio 124. The volume was number 164-165 in the sale of Sir James Balfour`s library. At the top of folio 125 verso is written `1704`. Former pressmark: A.1.18. The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1698.