Notes

Grand Chirurgien en son temps

Voir Pline, l. 24. chap. 8.

ulmeau

Ulmi et folia et cortex et rami vim habent spissandi et volnera contrahendi. corticis utique interior tilia lepras sedat et folia ex aceto inlita. corticis denarii pondus potum in hemina aquae frigidae alvum purgat pituitasque et aquas privatim trahit. inponitur et collectionibus lacrima et volneribus et ambustis quae decocto fovere prodest. umor in folliculis arboris huius nascens cuti nitorem inducit faciemque gratiorem praestat. cauliculi foliorum primi vino decocti tumores sanant extrahuntque per fistulas. idem praestant et tiliae corticis. multi corticem commanducatum volneribus utilissimum putant, folia trita aqua adspersa pedum tumori. umor quoque e medulla, uti diximus, castratae arboris effluens capillum reddit capiti inlitus defluentesque continet.

The leaves, bark and branches of the elm are styptic, and have the property of closing wounds. The inner bark in particular relieves leprous sores, as also does a local application of the leaves soaked in vinegar. One denarius of the bark, taken in a hemina of cold water, purges the bowels, being specific for carrying off phlegms and watery humours. Its tear is also applied locally to gatherings, wounds and burns, which it is good to foment with a decoction. The moisture forming in the pods of this tree brings a brightness to the skin and makes the looks more pleasing. The tips of the little stalks of the leaves boiled down in wine cure tumours and draw out the pus through fistulas. The same property is shown by the inner barks. Many hold that the bark when chewed is very good for wounds, and that the leaves, pounded and sprinkled with water, are so for swollen feet. An application of the moisture too, that exudes, as I have said [Book XVI. § 192], from the pith of the tree when lopped, restores hair to the scalp and prevents it from falling out.

The greatest surgeon

See Pliny, l. xxiv, c. viii.

grand Chirurgien

Voyez Pline, Liv. XXIV, Chap 8.

great Surgeon

Cf. Pliny xxiv. 8, § 33: “Ulmi et folia et cortex et rami vim habent spissandi et vulerna contrahendi.”

grand chirurgien

Allusion aux vertus thérapeutiques de cet arbre. Dioscoride en vante la deuxième écorce contre les derrmatoses, et Pline dit: «Ulmi et folia et cortex vim babent spissandi et vulnera contrahendi». XXIV, 33. (Paul Delaunay)

greatest physician

who, possessing a bark rich with healing virtues, was the greatest physician of his day.

Hamadryas

C’est la légende des Hamadryades (nymphes des arbres) , raconté par Athénée, Banquet, III, 78; cf. Gyraldi, Syntagma de deis gentium, Bâle, 1555, 170. L’ulmeau (l’orme) « feut grand Chirurgien en son temps », sans doute parce que les Anciens corrigeaient les enfants et les esclaves avec des verges d’orme (d’ou l’adjectif ulmi-tribus).

Ulmeau

Allusion aux vertus théreapeutiques de l’ormeau (Pline, XXIV, xxxiii).

grand chirurgien

Ptéléa: ulmeau ou orme. Rabelais en fait-il un chirurgien parce qu’il a des vertus thérapeutiques (Pline, XXIV, 8; Manardi, Epistolae medicinales, VIII, 1) ou parce que les verges avec lesquelles les Anciens administraient des corrections étaient souvent en bois d’orme? Mail il se peut encore que ce ne sout qu’une plaisante allusion à un chirurgien contemporain nommé Ulmeau ou Delorme.