Tractado muy provechoso del anatomia, y phlebotomia de venas y arterias y del anatomia de los nervios, con un tractado de ventosas y otro de sanguijuelas con unas reglas generales para saber los dias aptos para las sangrias
In the 14th century, the physician Dr. Francisco di Molina composed a comprehensive and detailed treatise on bloodletting. His treatise is one of the most significant works on the medical practices of the Middle Ages. For a long time, the significant work served as a primary source of information about bloodletting and was not only consulted by physicians, but laymen as well.
Tractado muy provechoso del anatomia, y phlebotomia de venas y arterias y del anatomia de los nervios, con un tractado de ventosas y otro de sanguijuelas con unas reglas generales para saber los dias aptos para las sangrias
The Exceptionally Helpful and Practical Treatise on Anatomy, the Bleeding of Veins and Arteries, the Anatomy of the Nerves, with a Treatise on Suction Cups and Leeches, as well as Rules for the Calculation of Days Suitable for Bloodletting – this extremely comprehensive title is carried by one of the most important medical treatises to be composed in medieval Spain. The work is ascribed to the physician Dr. Francisco Molina, who is himself identified with the Catalonian title Obrecica. This astounding manuscript represents an unbelievably precious rarity among the numerous codices of the Middle Ages. It is one of the first medicinal handbooks worldwide that was composed in a language accessible to laymen. The scientific descriptions were elucidated by pin sharp sketches.
The Medical World in the Middle Ages
The informative manuscript is organized into five books, which are already presented in the title. Dr. Molina, the author of the masterpieces, justified the usefulness of his manuscript with the following words: "It is my and all of our desire to avoid pointless bloodshed and to curb misuse, as is practiced by some barbers today; to counter serious aberrations, with which uneducated barbers treat ignorant people; they treat them nowadays for the sake of increasing their own prestige and to show that they can do something, conducting themselves as though they could heal the human body, but destroying them completely through their faulty treatment, also for those who want to behave and learn differently in order to serve their patients – for all of these I have written this treatise, in which I elucidate bloodletting, as it was taught to me by doctors and scholars.”
A Rare Book Treasure
The book, which was composed “for the welfare of the sick, for the barbers, the surgeons, and for all who cut parts of the body”, possesses a special place in the history of literature. It was manufactured in an extremely exclusive print shop and only three original editions of the precious work were printed in this workshop. Each of the three editions contains the following dedication on the first page: “The Vicar General of Alcal de Henares, Diocese of Toledo, and the scholar Pedro de Lagasca have given their consent.” This dedication makes it clear just how far the influence of the instructive handbook reached and elucidates its irreplaceable status in the medicine of the Middle Ages. For us, the codex represents a charming source concerning familiar medical practices in bygone times.
Codicology
- Size / Format
- 120 pages / 15.5 × 10.5 cm
- Origin
- Spain
- Date
- May 6th, 1547
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Script
- Gothic script
- Illustrations
- Title page printed in red and black ink. Woodcuts showing anatomical tables and engraved initials
- Content
- Work on bloodletting for medical professionals and laymen
- Artist / School
- Francisco Molina (author)
Martín Muñoz (printer)
Thome Rico (printer)
Tractado muy provechoso del anatomia, y phlebotomia de venas y arterias y del anatomia de los nervios, con un tractado de ventosas y otro de sanguijuelas con unas reglas generales para saber los dias aptos para las sangrias
Diagram of the Human Body
This extremely detailed woodcut was obviously created by a masterful hand and has all the major body parts labelled, with particular attention paid to facial features. Mouth open, even individual parts of the mouth like the teeth, tongue, and gums are specified and labelled. The figure has a well-muscled abdomen, pectoral muscles, arms, and shoulders, which is emphasized through the employment of shading. He appears to be leaning to one side – the model may have been resting on something.

Tractado muy provechoso del anatomia, y phlebotomia de venas y arterias y del anatomia de los nervios, con un tractado de ventosas y otro de sanguijuelas con unas reglas generales para saber los dias aptos para las sangrias
Title Page
The extremely long-winded title of Dr. Francisco Molina’s work details the five parts into which it is divided: human anatomy, bloodletting, the nervous system, the uses of suction cups and leeches, and rules for calculating the most fortuitous days for bloodletting. Even if some of the remedies recommended are not considered credible by modern medicine, it is an important work of anatomy.
Preceded by a black cross and closed by a red heart, the section titles are printed alternatively in black and red ink. The woodcut border is extremely intricate and consists of two columns wrapped in flowering tendrils. Four intertwining bands running along the top and bottom to enclose the text and connect these decorative strips.

#1 Tractado muy provechoso del anatomia, y phlebotomia de venas y arterias y del anatomia de los nervios, con un tractado de ventosas y otro de sanguijuelas con unas reglas generales para saber los dias aptos para las sangrias
Language: Spanish
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