HISTNEUR-L: The History of Neuroscience Internet Forum

Cabusatores et cabusatrices

• Date:   Fri, 17 Jan 2003 16:26:12 -0600
• To:   histneur-l@library.ucla.edu, H-SCI-MED-TECH@h-net.msu.edu
• From:   Plinio Prioreschi <plinio@creighton.edu>
• Subject:   Cabusatores et cabusatrices
• Message-ID:   NGBBJHOGALBIOGCFMKMKAECOCFAA.plinio@creighton.edu

In 1443, the surgeons and the medical faculty of Paris took joint action
against illicit medical practitioners called "cabusatores et cabusatrices."

"Cabus" in medieval Latin meant "measure" or "kettle" (in modern French,
according to my dictionary, it means "cabbage") but the relation to illegal
medical practice does not seem clear. Did the words "cabusatores" and
"cabusatrices" have another derivation?

Any help would be appreciated.


Plinio Prioreschi