Head wounds and the Red Book of Hergest

Abstract

At the beginning of the text traditionally associated with the Meddygon Myddfai (‘the Physicians of Myddfai’) in the Red Book of Hergest (Oxford, Jesus College MS 111, c. 1400), there is a section concerning the disease and injury of the head and their treatment. Using my knowledge and experience of the medical principles in neurology, from practice as a consultant clinical neurologist and professor of clinical neurology, I will explore this passage as evidence of the treatment of head wounds and head injury in medieval Wales. The comparative texts in the two other medical manuscripts, London, BL Add. 14912 and Oxford, Bodleian Rawlinson B. 467, will be explored in parallel and differences included in the discussion. I will outline the details of trepanation, as practised by these physicians, at that time.