Pseudo-Canamusali

Written in a rounded gothic hand, possibly by an English scribe, 27-35 lines to a page. Some headings in red. Fol. 1 (red) Assit principo Virgo maria meo. Amen./Incipit liber accanamusay de baldach translatus a magistro W[ilhelmo] a[nglico] medico/de arabico in latino/[D]Ycit [sic] acanamusay translator huius libri [de] infirmitate oculorum/secundum G[alienum] sunt C. de V... 12v ...commi/sce et duc simul satis et obtura ampullam et pone ad solem/ The MS. ends in the middle of the receipt for the 12th collyrium, in Book V: the complete work is in seven books.

Mid 15th Century

1 volume 12 ll. 4to. 19 x 13 1/2 cm. 19th cent. vellum binding. The end is wanting, and the margins have been cropped in binding

Purchased 1912.

The compiler of this work appears to have been David Armenicus who lived in South Italy, probably in the 12th century. It is based on, but not a translation of, Canamusali's treatise. Sarton in his 'Introduction to the History of Science', Vol. 1, p. 729, describes it as 'a crude forgery'. A version of it was first printed with the 'Chirurgia' of Guy de Chauliac at Venice in 1499 (B.M.C. v. 575), and a MS. copy was edited by P. Pansier in his 'Collectio ophthalmologica veterum auctorum', Fasc. IV. Paris, 1904.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

From the Library of G[oerge] M[atthews] Arnold, J.P. (1826-1908), Milton Hall, Gravesend