Galen on Medical Experience

Abstract

FABRICIUS, in his "Bibliotheca Graeea" (1717), lists one hundred and seventy treatises by Galen still extant; his list of treatises lost fills six and a half quarto pages. Kuehn's edition of Galen's works (1821–33), in spite of all its faults and for many years to come the best accessible collection, comprises twenty-two volumes. Ever since 1906, lost treatises by Galen have been recovered and edited—in Arabic versions. "On Medical Experience" is one of these 'lost' treatises. Its only manuscript was discovered in 1931 by H. Ritter at Istanbul. Here is the first edition of the Arabic text, which dates from the middle of the ninth century, with an introduction, English translation, and explanatory notes (chiefly sources and cross-references)—the work of R. Walzer, whose experience and previous work in the fields of Arabic and Greek science and philosophy account for the admirable execution of his task. The work is exceedingly well produced at a surprisingly low price. Galen on Medical Experience First edition of the Arabic version with English translation and Notes by R. Walzer. (Published for the Trustees of the late Sir Henry Wellcome.) Pp. xi + 164. (London, New York and Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1944.) 12s. 6d. net.