A professor from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) is leading a groundbreaking international project to translate and analyze a rare 13th-century text.
Dr. Sarah Dowling, an associate professor of English and Medieval Studies at UBCO, is spearheading the effort to translate and analyze the “Liber de Diversis Medicinis,” a medical text written in Latin by a physician named Gilbertus Anglicus in the 13th century.
The text, which has never been fully translated into English, contains valuable information about medieval medical practices and treatments. However, due to its complex language and technical terminology, it has remained largely inaccessible to modern readers.
Dr. Dowling and her team of researchers from UBCO, the University of Toronto, and the University of Cambridge are working to change that. They have received a grant of $100,000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to fund their project.
Their goal is to create a complete English translation of the text, along with a comprehensive analysis of its contents. This will not only make the text more accessible to scholars and students, but also shed light on the medical practices of the medieval period.
Dr. Dowling explains that the “Liber de Diversis Medicinis” is a valuable resource for understanding the development of medicine in the Middle Ages. It contains information on a wide range of topics, including anatomy, surgery, and herbal remedies.
The team will also be examining the text for any potential connections to modern medical practices. Dr. Dowling believes that the text may hold valuable insights into the origins of certain medical treatments and techniques that are still used today.
The project has already garnered international attention, with scholars from around the world expressing interest in the team’s work. Dr. Dowling hopes that their efforts will not only contribute to the field of medieval studies, but also spark further research and discussion on the history of medicine.
The team’s translation and analysis of the “Liber de Diversis Medicinis” is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Their work will be published in a book and made available to the public, ensuring that this rare 13th-century text will finally be accessible to all.
