Tacuinum sanitatis. Folio 86 recto. Salt Water.

Tacuinum sanitatis. Folio 86 recto. Salt Water.

Ibn Buṭlān, -approximately 1068.
Bibliothèque nationale de France. Manuscript. Lat. 9333.
Bibliothèque nationale France. Manuscript. Lat. 9333.
Materia medica -- Early works to 1800.
Materia medica -- Pictorial works -- Early works to 1800.
Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern) -- Europe.
Illumination of books and manuscripts, German.
Manuscripts -- Facsimiles.
Materia Medica.
Medicine, Arabic.

Text describes the nature of salt water as well as the optimum form for saltwater to take. While artwork on the page depicts sailing in saltwater, the rest of the text describes the benefits and detriments of drinking salt water, as well as including remedies for the negative effects. Final sentences comment on the overall effect saltwater can have on an individual along with the most recommended type of person/conditions for drinking saltwater. The overall effect description emphasizes the dehydration that salt water can provide. This, coupled with artwork depicting sailing on saltwater rather than someone drinking it, indicates that saltwater was not regarded as drinkable water.

Ibn Butlan

ND3399 .I15 2009

Tufts University. Tisch Library.

3/26/2015

M. Moleiro

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Image/Jpeg

lat

Image

Mid-15th Century

Salt Water. Nature: hot and dry in the second degree. Optimum: the type that is not bitter and flows. Benefit: it moves the bowels; then, it dehydrates them. Harm: it causes itching and harms the eyes. Remedy for harm: mixing it with good clay and going to the baths after taking it. Effects: it causes thirst and obstructions. Most advisable for cold and wet [temperaments], the elderly, in winter and in cold regions.

Manuscript page. Text with artwork.