May 1955

The Codex Paneth

“One of the world’s most famous medical manuscripts, the six hundred year old Codex Paneth, has been acquired by the Yale Medical Library. This rare, early medieval manuscript on velum measuring 23.5 by 33.7 cm., contains 1,378 pages. The numerous beautifully colored miniature initials illustrating medical scenes, the many representations of surgical instruments, and the rubrication in blue and red are by two different and unnamed artists, one a North Italian, the other probably a Bohemian artist of the early XIV century school. These illuminations give an insight to the medical and surgical procedures of the period. Many of the scalpels, saws, forceps and other instruments shown are amazingly modern in appearance and in some cases closely resemble surgical instruments in use today.”