Monday, April 28, 2025

24.07.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [6]; Tacuinum Sānitātis (5): the benefits of garlic

Alleum │ Garlic

Using the previous text as a guide, and the vocabulary which has been given in previous posts on this topic, try to answer the questions about the benefits or otherwise of garlic. The text together with its translation is attached.

Alleum 

Complēctiō calida in 4° sicca in 3°

Ēlēctiō meliōrā ex eō est quī modicē acuitātis est

Iuuāmentum contrā uenēna frīgida et morsus scorpiōnum et uīperārum et interficit uermēs

Nocumentum nocet oculīs et cerebrō

Remōtiō nocumentī cum acētō et oleō

Quid generat hūmōrem grossum et acūtum

Conuenit frīgidīs dēcrepitīs et senibus hyēme* et montānīs et septentriōnālibus.

*alternative spelling of hieme

acuitās, acuitātis [3/f]: (Mediaeval); sharpness; intensity

The translation gives this as ‘juiciness’ which is also possible since there is a rare word – aqueitās – which means ‘wateriness’ or ‘moisture’, but the manuscript is clear in its use of acuitātis

acūtus, -a, -um: sharp

cerebrum, -ī [2/n]: brain

grossus, -a, -um: (Mediaeval) thick

hiems, hiemis [3/f]: winter

modicē: moderately < modicus, -a, -um: moderate

montānus, -a, -um: (adjective) mountain; mountainous

morsus, -ūs [4/m]: bite; sting

septentriōnālis, -e: northern

venēnum, -ī [2/n]: poison

vermis, -is [3/m]: worm

____________________

[i] Is garlic [a] cold [b] hot [c] dry [d] wet?

[ii] The best type is moderately __________.

[iii] True or false? You can use garlic to treat poisons.

[iv] Garlic is good if you are bitten by __________ and __________.

[v] What can garlic kill?

[vi] Garlic damages the __________ and the __________.

[vii] Damage can be remedied with __________ and __________.

[viii] The text refers to the humours i.e. bodily fluids, in particular the four "cardinal humours" - blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm – believed to control the health and mood of the human body.

What two effects does garlic have on the humour?

[ix] Garlic is advisable:

[a] for what kind of conditions?

[b] for what kind of people?

[c] in what season?

[d] in what regions?


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