The image of the insane in ancient Jewish lore.

This article considers the attitude towards the insane and insanity in ancient Jewish sources. In the Bible, the most famous case of a psychopathological personality is that of King Saul, who was plagued by 'an evil spirit'. Saul also raises the problematic connections between prophecy and frenzy. Madness and confusion of mind are mentioned among the biblical 'curses for disobedience'. In the Talmud, there is a detailed symptomatic evaluation of insanity, in the context of legal liability. It is well-known that some individuals are at times insane, otherwise sane and responsible, which is legally taken into careful consideration. The Jewish historian Josephus describes in his works several cases of psychiatric patients. The most impressive case is that of Jesus ben Ananias, a delirious maniac who announced the fall of Jerusalem while roaming about the streets of the city. It may be argued that no clear attitude of derision or ostracism towards insane patients can be found in ancient Jewish literature. 'The Lord preserves the fools' (Ps 116: 6).

'Do not drink wine or strong drink': alcohol and responsibility in ancient Jewish sources.

Injunctions against alcohol in ancient Jewish sources are cited and discussed.

[Andrology and anthropology in the Talmud]. / Andrologie et anthropologie dans le corpus talmudique.

The article analyses andrological aspects of Hebrew medicine and legislation. A detailed analysis of the sources provides interesting testimonies about the practice of abstinence, sexual hygiene, evaluation of male pleasure, religious prohibitions, dangers of committing sexual excesses and forbidden practices as homosexuality.

[The physician in the Talmudic period: between technie and halakhah]. / Le médecin a l'époque du Talmud: entre techne et halakhah.

The Talmud is a vast corpus in which medicine is no more than an artifact. We can nevertheless, in the light of the extant data, gain some idea of the status of physicians in biblical and talmudic times. After some brief considerations on the biblical period, particularly on the relationship of priests and prophets to medicine, we shall focus on the talmudic data. Several Sages of note were knoledgeable in medical lore, mostly of popular origin, but in some cases of scientific origin as well. The most impressive case is that of Mar Samuel. A report of an experimentation in the field of embryology allegedly performed in Alexandria will be described. In all these cases, data pertaining to the healing art (techne) are recorded with the only aim of establishing the law (halakkah). We shall then detail what is known of the medical profession then and there, i.e., licensing, liability and fees. Some data on ethics and etiquette will close this overview of the practice of medicine in ancient Jewish lore.

[The Hebrew manuscript of Avicenna's Canon]. / Un chef d'oeuvre d'illustration médicale: le manuscrit hébraïque du Canon d'Avicenne (Ms. Bologne 2197).

The Hebrew manuscript of Avicenna's Canon, today in the University Library of Bologna (Ms 2197) dates from about the middle of the XVth century; it contains six full-page illuminations which have probably been performed by Northern-Italian artists. The study of the pictures may help modern comprehension of the relationships between medieval men, illnesses and ages of life, and it clarifies the profound ethical links correlating physicians with patients and their entourage. The text, written in Hebrew square capitals and Rashi italics, clearly shows how, on the threshold of Italian Renaissance, Hebrew was still considered, as Greek and Latin, one of the classical languages.

"Mater puerorum'. A medieval naming for an enigmatic children's disease.

The pediatric clinical entity called "Mater Puerorum' appears first in the latin translation of Rhazes' "Practica Puerorum' and in his "Continens'. His descriptions of the disease could give some likeness either to a diagnosis of night terrors, or of hyperpyretic convulsions, or of a slight form of epilepsy. Mater Puerorum is afterwards described by most pediatric authors till the Renaissance period without much originality. Rhazes being one of their main sources anyway. Mater Puerorum has been considered by Still and Radbill as a synonym for hysterical fits in children. Going back to the Arabic original naming: Ummu's Sibyan, we venture another etymology based on Babylonian-Judeo-Arabic demonology. The "Mother of the Children' could be the female demon Karina--or Lilith--which is said to come to plague the children at night. The naming Mater Puerorum could thus be ascribed to a folklore origin, rather than to hysteria.