Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the National Library
G 455
MEDICAL
16th-17th cent. Paper. 19 × 14 cms. 230 pp. with modern pencil pagination. At least twenty hands. Three scribal signatures: Uilliam Ó Finghuine, p. 97i; Risteard[Ó Conchubhair], p. 103m (cf. RIA3 C19); Conal, p. 131 last line. Manuscript has associations with medical family of Ó Conchubhair (see description of G 12 above) and hand of no. (v) scribe below is that of unnamed scribe of G 453 no. (i), RIA 23 N 16 and part of RIA 23 N 29, who was son-in-law to Donnchadh Óg Ó Conchubhair (23 N 16, f. 56r). Pp. 133–4 of present manuscript in hand of this scribe is a fragment of text by this scribe in 23 N 29 (see p. 133 below); 23 N 29 ff. 92r (57)-92v(60) is a fragment of text in present manuscript in hand of scribe no. (i) (see page 1 below); hands of unidentified scribes nos. (ii), (iii) below occur in 23 N 29, ff. 84r-85 and 11 v (92)-12vm respectively; hand of unidentified scribe (iv) below is probably that of 23 N 29 f. 65 r. The scribe, Uilliam Ó Finghuine, (p. 97i) is invoked in RIA 23 N16, f. 11r and in G 453, f. 87r lower margin.
Main hands: (i) pp. 1-76, 135-8, 145-52; (ii) pp. 79-94, 107-16; (iii) pp. 97 upper half, 98, 100-104, 171, 182, 225 (in part), 226, 228-30; (iv) pp. 119-22, 125-30; (v) pp. 99 lines 1-4, 133-4, 139-46. Other hands: (vi) pp. 105-6; (vii) pp. 117-8, 123-4; (viii) Conal pp. 131-2, (?) 175-8, 181; (ix) pp. 153-64; (x) pp. 165-70, 173; (xi) pp. 179-80; (xii) pp. 183-6;
(xiii) pp. 187-9 (? three different hands); (xiv) p. 191; (xv) p. 192; (xvi) pp. 193-8; (xvii) pp. 199-204m, 211-8; (xviii) pp. 205-8; (xix) pp. 209- 19; (xx) p. 227. Among several other hands who contributed a few lines here and there (and in margins) throughout the manuscript are the above-named scribes: (xxi) Uilliam Ó Finghuine, p. 97i and (xxii) Risteard [Ó Conchubhair], p. 103m.
Names, jottings etc. in manuscript: p. 29 (inverted) 'Daniel Denny his book; p. 115 'Terence Cassidy'; p. 117 'for spesciall care I writt here in the yeari that my unkill Rory mWore O Cassidie dyede to witt 1675'; p. 195 (inverted) 'Matha O Fearuci' ('Matha O Fearucio', p. 200; 'Maha I Hairisa god mangh posan tú ban fastda go uiam fean cuid', p. 207 (inverted)); p. 206 outer margin '[. . . ] misi Dermuid O (. a . )e do sgri[obh . . . ]; p. 209 (inverted) 'do uici ag na luighroadh o an lioci go artioiciudh.'
Bound in half-leather with Rossmore book-plate affixed inside front cover and 'Rossmore Library Monaghan' in ink; relevant printed slip of O'Reilly sale-catalogue signed 'Rossmore' affixed on endpaper; slip bearing '34' (number in O'Reilly catalogue) pasted on p. 1. Many leaves misplaced (noted below); second half of manuscript badly frayed (with loss of text); some leaves torn; staining throughout.
Page
1 Aegidius. De URINIS. Acephalous. Beg. here (p. 71) [iun]git etiam hanc sententiam . . ..i. an fual drochbhaladh comharthaighidh marbhadh ⁊ morccadh. Breaks off (p. 36) Ex uitio iecoris trahitur mictura cruoris.... An fual tic o chilis uena arna bhrisiodh bi glan maille and catchword isin. Proper sequence of pages: 71-6, 5-16, 49-54, [...], 21-2, [...], [RIA 23 N 29 ff. 92r (57) -93v (60)], [...], 23-4, [...], 145-6, [...], 55-6, 63-4, 67-8, 37-40, 69-70, 65-6, 57-8, [...], 147-8, 41-2, 1-2, 151-2, 45-8, [...], 17-18, [...], 59-60, 19-20, 61-2, 149-50, 3-4, 43-4, [...], 27-30, 135-8, 31-2, 25-6, 35-6. Scribal entries: 'A Dhia et a Mhuiri is truagh in saothar sin do chuir Egidius uasal orm bheith ag brisiodh mo croidhe ag sgriophadh fhuail na ccailleadh tar gach fual oile ar domhan', p. 63i; 'Lor co maidin', p. 64, last line; 'ni beag an dearmad sin', following an erasure, p. 138. For a slightly different version see RIA 23 N 16, ff. 74r-122r (lacunae in text); for abbreviated version see G 453, ff. 88r-101r.
77 (inverted) Fragment of LILIUM MEDICINAE beg. Loquelam perturbans .i. ised is incopus ann. Breaks off (p. 78 inverted) with opening lines of particle 3 [S]icut scribit Galenus . . . fear coimeda na cathrach [sa] gaired is airde. 'A Mhuire cionnus sin', p. 78 upper margin (inverted).
77 upper margin (inverted). Metaphysical definition .Beg. Natura est substantile principium . . . .i. ised is nadur ann tosach substainteach . . . cuiris a ngnim no a neifeacht e. 'A glor a buime', p. 78 upper margin (inverted).
79 Fragment (end) of definitions from Aegidius' DE URINIS. Beg. here na cuirp mar an deichamh cuid do grainne cruithneachta bis isin fual. Followed (p. 80) by table of colours of urine with explanation in Irish.
81 Tract on Urine. Beg. Urina est colamentum sanguinis et humorum et cetera .i. iseadh is fual ann sithlogha na fola ⁊ na leannann. Breaks off (p. 94) An .5. red adubrumar. Irish version of work by Theophilus ('Adeir Theofilus in urinis suis', p. 83.1). Cf. p. 107.
95 'Anper [. . . ] an [. . . ].' Beg. Perturbatio ventris non est naturalis. Ends [. . . ] vomitum esse [. . . ]. On disorders of the stomach (in Latin). Galen's Differentiis Morborum cited.
96 (i) Atú geall an [...]/[... ] bal anmuin túas. Second quatriain beg. Rue eitil a hucht an talman. 6 qq. (ii) Three definitions from Galen's Methodo Medendi. Beg. Minime autem aparvis auxiliis incipiendum. (iii) 'ainail (?) a Domnaill I Cuileamein ni maith (. . .it) sin go deimhin (ogham consaine). (iv) 'fear gan treoir fear g[an] fearg.'
97 upper half, 98, 101-2, 103-4. Four separate fragments—probably part of fragmentary text in RIA 23 N 29, ff. 11-60, the content of which here mainly concerns purging. (Authorities cited include Galen, Hippocrates, Avicenna). They are respectively Oir adeir Galen gurob teasaidhe tirim gach uile leigheas lagthach . . . aicid eile roimhe air; co eadrom sonairt. Et adeir Galen ... is mor an baoghal ⁊ an guasacht an tshiad; (. . . ) is seimhe na sin amhail ata sugh na eorna ... ⁊ a sciathain ⁊ a goconna (followed (p. 102) by scribal entry 'go gcuiridh Dia crich maith orm'); soin amach. gurob ón brigh nadura tuictear é . . . fédtar sin do tuicsin do fholmhadh thoileamhuil no [. . . ] ealaoinach. Scribal entries: 'Ag sin duit o Risteard', p. 103m; 'do Mhuire ccoma coimirce agus dion [ó] fheirg do mhórMheic mé. go ttucadh Día Semus slan co hÉirinn', p. 104, last lines.
97 lower half (i) Three moral definitions. Beg. Sicut aqua extingit ignem ... is mar sin muchas an deirc an peacadh. Endstar a hais ona [ . . . ]. (ii) Two medical definitions. Beg. Omnes partes sanguinis et carnis sunt calide ....i. Ata gach aon rann don fhuil. 'Misi Uilliam O Finghuine. Is ni heidir do dearmad deis ar dearbhus an bl.... ' (iii) '(...) eos Deo omnipotente beate Marie . . . beato Michaeli (mo . . .) andso(n) Uilliam O Fionghuini misi do mhac + sin a Dhoncha I (N . . .).'
99 (i) Last four lines of text: [ . . . ] ag a tuismeadh ⁊ ag a cruthagad ... a bfiabruis no a ndroceaslaintiph eile. 'Sin duit a Uilliam I Fionguine maille beannachtain.' (ii) Definition: Inter non habentes modum est non habere modum. (iii) Metaphysical and medical definitions (one cancelled) of Aristotle, Hippocrates and Galen: Si est pater est filii pater . . . multas que annos requirit. G[alen] de Plenitudinem.
100 (i) 'Amen [. . .] oire./(...) ba mhaith leam Aodh mac Roibeaird do theachd don bhaile so.' (ii) Ort do tseiseacht a shaoghal. Breaks off end of page with 11th quatrain.
101 - 4 See under p. 97 upper half.
102 lower margin. The following quatrain (very faded): 'Ag triall on teigh is tu marm / tu mo ghrian (is) mo gh(loin) gh(arm)/(...) athair ( . . . )'.
105 - 6 Fragment of text (in Latin) on nature of man. Beg. [. . .] dicatio est duplex. Lower margins mutilated.
107 Tract on Urine. Beg. Urina est colamentum sanguinis et est duarum rerum significatiua . . . iseadh i[s] fual ann sithlo nafola ⁊ foillsighidh se dha ni. Ends (p. 115) do reir mhodha in bhreitheamhnuis roimhe sin. 'Finit.' Scribal entry: 'comlionadh', p. 109 last line. Chapter headings in Latin with Irish translation following. More or less similar in content to tract on p. 81.
116 Tract 'De Urinis significantibus mortem' (Thorndike, A Catalogue of Incipits). Beg. In omnibus his infirmitatibus ut ptisis ydropisis. Breaks off (p. 130) In febre continua lenta . . . difectu constante vigor. Scribal entries: 'Seachtmhadh la fithid do mhí Februari', p. 120 last line; 'an .5. la do Mharta 1656', p. 124 last line.
131 - 2 See under p. 163.
133 Fragment from text in RIA 23 N 29 ff. 94(71)-99(81) on diet. Beg. here Quantor exventor veniunt inventre retendo....i. tegaid na .4. neithi so. Breaks off (p. 134) Non sit acetosa ... go maith ⁊ a denamh.
135 - 8 8 See p. 1 above.
139 Fragment of abbreviated version of Aegidius' DE URINIS. Beg. here Agricam spasmum maiorem . . . .i. in fual uís dathaighti. Breaks off (p. 144) In nuitur gutta . . . de erit quin. For a full copy (by same scribe) see G 453, ff. 88r-101r.
145 - 52 See p. 1 above.
153 On fevers. Acephalous. Beg. hereaffligit quamque est duplex indelicet quotidianu in ....i. ised is quotidiana ann fiabhras bios maille saoirsi. Ends (p. 162) subidheachd an craidhe ⁊ na boill daingnighthe. 'Ano Domini 1571.' Chapter headings in Latin followed by Irish translation on different types of fevers (tercian, quotidian etc.). Another hand supplies additional matter on same subject on p. 160 upper and lower margins, and medical and metaphysical definitions (four) on pp. 161-2 low. marg., 163 upp. and low. marg., 164-5 low. marg. Beg. Anathomia autem est scientia recta. Ends Deff[i]nitio est oratio demonstratis ... ar a ndentar comhradh.
163 Beg. Medicina est scientia qua humani corporis....i. ised is leghis ann ealada o naitheantar suidhiugha no ullmhudha an chuirp dhaonna. Ends (p. 164) Diffinicio est oratio ... ⁊ ní go haiccídeach secundum Aristotilem. Propositions extracted from a work by Avicenna. Authorities for some given in margins. 'Gilla na gcraicinn ceistim'(?), p. 164 upp. marg.
165 'A nainm trir an tinsgeadalsa.' Beg.[C]erte in medicina immensa profunditas est .i. bidh a dhemhin agad go bhfuil doimhne mhor isin ealadhain leghis. Ends (p. 221m) ⁊ an leghis uhís sooileamhnach mar sin is tarbhach e. 'Finis.' Medical definitions, aphorisms entitled 'Aphorismi seu axiomata medica' (Thorndike, A Catalogue of Incipits). Proper sequence of pages: 165-8, 181-2, 171-8, [...], 179-180, 169-70, [?], 131-2, 219-21m. Scribal entries: 'fromad pinn', p. 131 upp. marg.; 'non est bene sgribendi ego sum Conal', p. 131 last line; 'an maith sin ( . . . )', 'Jesus Maria Deo grasias', p. 166 upp. margin; 'Jesus Maria De[o]', 'gurub amhlaidh amen', p. 167 upp. marg.; 'anno Domini 1572', p. 170 upp. marg; 'ag sin caibidil aon ar fad', p. 171 last line; 'Jesus Maria Deo gratia', p. 172 upp. marg. ;'Goll mac Morna meic Cormaic no Cet meic Ilandi o Ilan Manain meic Pun meic Fina meic Ceil alpanachta', p. 174 upper marg.; 'a mbali ctha [sic] Dubhlin dam [...]', p. 174 last line; 'Jesus Maria Deo', p. 175 upp. marg.; 'anno Domini me', p. 178 low. marg. (inverted);'mor arm', p. 219 upper margin; 'an maith sin mar pheand', p. 221 upp. marg..
183 Definitions from LlLlUM MEDICINAE. Acephalous. Beg. here Putrida est febris ex putrefactione . . . .i. iseadh is fiabhras morgaidhthe ann = G 453, f. 45ri. Breaks off (p. 218) ⁊ cheansuidheas an teas nadura ⁊ an iota = f. 55v.10. Misplacement of pages: pp. 213-16 should follow p. 198. Scribal entry: 'sin duit mailli', p. 202 last line. Less definitions here than in text in G 453, ff. 45-55v.
219 - 21 See p. 165 above.
221 i Medical definitions. Beg. Sola gustatilis qualitas omnem facul- tatem potest discernere ....i. is le cail an uhlasachta amhain fhetar cumachta gach uili neithe daithne. Galen and Brasa Ualus cited as authorities.
222 Definitions of various kinds of capacity ('virtus') headed 'De uirtutibus naturalibus ministratur' beg. Vitalis uero uirtus est illa que spiritus in esse conseruat. . . isead is brigh bheodhaighteach ann. Avicenna cited as authority. Immediately followed (p. 225m) by other medical definitions beg. Febris est calor extranem . . . .i. isead is fiabras ann teas eachtrannach. Breaks of (p. 226) Magna pars scientie est scire ....i. is mor an rand deagna dhuit a thuicsin nach tuigear ní. Scribal entries: 'coimeas annso re duine egin da bfuil astigh', p. 222 upper margin; 'Is i mo dhoigh go bhfuil an brigh f. . . d r . . . scuin', p. 223, last line.
227 Calendar of moveable feasts (from 'Septuaisima' [sic] to 'Adventus Domini') for seven years.
228 Definitions of various parts of the body. Beg. [Cor est] membrum neruosum . . . .i. iseadh is craidhi and. Followed (p.229) by recipe (from cheese) for diarrhoae beg. Casei per bulliti ....i. da mbearbhthar cáisi ar dtuis a nuisgi. Endscoisgi flux na pronn. 'Is soal [sic] anois ⁊ do mo chumhuidh do budh romhithid linn an sun én di u . . . R ....'
228 - 9 lower margins. Conditions and signs for blood letting according to Galen. Beg. Quocunque enim die mittendi sanguinis . . . i. gid be ar bioth la ina bhfuidhir cuingill no comartada na fola do bheith inleicthi. Outer margin frayed.
230 (i) Recipe: '[ . . . ] lacermam ad nucis pontice . . . .i. da dtucthar terebentina a meid na cno darup ainm nux pontica ... an brú do scaoileadh . . . na huili bhall inmheadhonach do ghlanadh'. (ii) Medical definition beg. Exercitium est humane vitae conseruatio . . . .i. ise an saothar coiméd na beatha daonna. (iii) Moral definition: Aleator quanto in arte est melior ....i. da fheabhas an cearrbhach ina cheird . . . isí an mheidi sin is measa hé. '⁊ sic soin da gach droich ní eile'. Probatio pennae: 'da fechain in nomine Patris et Fili' written twice by two different scribes, p. 230 (inverted).