Signs and Senses: Diagnosis and Prognosis in Early Medieval Pulse and Urine Texts
Faith Wallis
The character of early medieval medical manuscripts makes it difficult to generalize about the nature knowledge in this period. In order reconstitute one field science, namely diagnosis and prognosis, while avoiding pitfalls unjustified generalization, essay limits itself reconstructing understanding pulse urine inspection available a particular place time: Italian monastery Monte Cassino at end first millennium. texts reveal little rationale behind these bedside techniques; indeed, seem be signs without any semiotics, underlying theory. clue paradox is fact that see as primarily prognostic rather than diagnostic. Prognosis was understood analogous forms intuition, judgement, revelation, prophecy operated outside logic causality. Hence fully rationalized semiotics not regarded necessary for effective practice.
Social history of medicine|PubMed