LIJEČENJE BOLESTI MOKRAĆNOG SUSTAVA PREMA DJELU HERBARIO NVOVO CASTORA DURANTEA IZ 1584.

Abstract

This article opens with Castor Durante’s title Herbario nvovo published in Venice in 1584 and in Rome in 1585, whose copy of the second edition published in Venice in 1684 has been kept in a Franciscan library of the monastery in Trsat (Rijeka, Croatia). It has 517 pages of text and illustrations reviewing 475 herb species. Illustrations are followed by descriptions providing the basics about the herb in Latin and a list of therapeutic properties, indications and ways of preparation in Italian. The first section of this article gives a review of 48 herbs which, according to Castor Durante, were used in the treatment of urinary diseases in the 16th century. It is worth noting that as many as 33 herbs are still used in contemporary herbal medicine, of which 24 for treating urinary diseases and nine for other indications. Of the remaining 15 herbs, 13 have been removed from the relevant contemporary list, and corresponding terms in Croatian have not been found for two herbs. If Castor Durante’s list is representative of the 16th century herbal medicine, this suggest that two thirds of herbs are still recognised by contemporary practice. However, only a half of these have retained their original indication. The remaining third from the 16th century list requires closer scrutiny and caution, especially those herbs which can more often bring harm than benefit.

Key words: history of medicine, 16th century; herbal medicine, urinary tract