Early Modern “Citation Index”? Medical Authorities in Academic Treatises on Plague (1480–1725)

Karel Černý

doi:10.14712/23362936.2015.27

Abstract

The paper deals with the problem of early modern scientific citations. It attempts to establish a measure of scientific popularity in a specific area of the academic medicine in a way which resembles a modern evaluation of scientific activity (citation index). For this purpose an analysis of a series of plague treatises written between 1480 and 1725 in Europe was conducted. Citations for various historical medical authorities (Hippocrates, Galen, etc.) are given in Tables which reflect a long time development of popularity. The authorities from various groups (Ancient, Medieval, Arabic, Early Modern) are linked together, and "generic authorities" are explained and discussed.

Highlights

The paper deals with a historical analysis of citation practice among the early modern medical authors
The goal is to illustrate changes in citation practice from a long established methodological point of view called in historiography by the French term longue durée
I have found that even authors from the very beginning of the early modern era provide extensive references of sources and it was a common practice to use cited references as a strategy to strengthen one’s position in theoretical discussion or to support the validity of a suggested cure

Summary

Introduction

The paper deals with a historical analysis of citation practice among the early modern medical authors. With those who wrote treatises on plague between 1480 and 1725. An ordinary plague tract of this period has more or less predictable structure with theoretical chapters describing epidemics in the beginning, followed by an exposition on plague in general, and a practical advice on prevention and cure in the end. I have found that even authors from the very beginning of the early modern era provide extensive references of sources and it was a common practice to use cited references as a strategy to strengthen one’s position in theoretical discussion or to support the validity of a suggested cure

Methods

Results

Conclusion