PMID: 6161742Dec 1, 1980Paper

The influence of Rabelais on medicine and its reform

Clio Medica : Acta Academiae Internationalis Historiae Medicinae
E F Frey

Abstract

François Rabelais (1494?-1553?) was, at one time or another in his life, a monk, physician, and writer. He lived in an era of controversy and conflict. An acknowledged scholar and classicist of the first order, he inveighed not only against church and government abuses at a time when it was dangerous to do so, but also against abuses in the domain of medicine. In addition to possessing great erudition. Rabelais was a master of coarse and common language, a fact evident throughout his five satirical books, which caused many to think of him as risqué. Rabelais's popular reputation as a gross buffoon of the later Middle Ages contrasts strikingly with his real status as one of the most profound and daring thinkers of his time: a great, creative mind. His sharp literary attacks were intended as instruments of reform. In Rabelais's time, medicine was not the scientific and therapeutically-effective profession that it is today. It was then devoid of science and full of absurdities, and the medications prescribed were often childishly inadequate. That Rabelais stuck to medicine an used it to color all of his writings reflects his strong natural inclination for that field. Rabelais the humanist is, perhaps, the most interesting physicia...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift
B Rüttimann
The American Journal of Cardiology
M J Stone
The American Journal of Medicine
E D RobinC Burke
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved