[Sca-cooks] Recipe to cure leprosy

[Terry Decker]

To lift a translation from Ranvaig:

67) Borrago Wein.

Ist gut für die Hertzsucht/ däuwung/ Melancholey/ zittern deß Hertzens/ 
reinigt dz Blut/ benimpt viel Fantasey/ für Grindt vn~ Aussatz. Mach jn 
also: Thu drey Pfundt Borrago oder Burretsch in  siben oder acht Pfundt 
Most/ seudt es also
ineinander/ biß er lauter wirt/ er stärcket das  Gesicht.

Borage Wine.  Is good for the heart disease/ digestion/  melancholy/ 
trembling of the heart/ cleaning the blood/ controls many fantasies/ for 
itch?? and leprosy. Make it like this: Put three pound of borage (or another 
word for borage) in seven or eight pounds of must/ boil it like this into 
each other/ until it becomes clear/ it strengths the vision.

BTW "Grindt" translates to "mange" or "scabs" (not scabies).

I think that "fantasies" may be an obscure usage referencing "grotesque, 
bizarre or unreal qualities."  But being certain of that requires someone 
with a better grasp of Early Modern German.

Bear

-----Original Message----- 
From: Susan Lord

Sorry, I got you off the track with the potato reference. I included it in 
my message as I found it amusing but I personally have nothing to do with 
potatoes as a medievalist whose research terminates in 1474.

Johanna’s recommendation: 
http://his.library.nenu.edu.cn/upload/soft/haoli/114/372.pdf
is most moving and informative. If you have not read it do so because it is 
outstanding.

My overwhelming question remains an issue. I know about treatments for 
leprosy like applying lily oil and eating ground gold but I am looking for a 
medieval recipe thought to help cure it. My gut feeling is chicken broth as 
that was a cure all.

James Prescott says:
> Rumpolt 1581 has 67) Borrago Wein, the translation says "... takes away
> many fantasies for ... leprosy."  So it's not clear exactly what the
> recipe does.  It might not cure leprosy, but it does something beneficial.

What is the recipe?
>
> James continues: Eberhard c. 1425 says (in the translation) "Nobody should 
> eat milk and
> fish at the same time as this causes leprosy.”
That is lovely nut what is the recipe?.