Das Lorscher Arzneibuch im Widerstreit der Meinungen

A critical re-evaluation of the Lorscher Arzneibuch, a 9th-century medical manuscript from Lorsch Abbey, challenges its historical significance. Originally hailed as the first German-language medical text and a groundbreaking document reflecting Carolingian health policy, this study disputes claims that it was composed in Lorsch or that it references advanced therapeutic substances like penicillin, glycosides, or hypericin (St John’s wort). The research employs close textual analysis to assess its origins and content, shedding light on the complexities of medieval medical documentation. This work contributes to ongoing debates about early European medical history by rigorously examining primary sources and contextualizing their interpretations.

Fischer, K.-D. (2010). Das Lorscher Arzneibuch im Widerstreit der Meinungen. Medizinhistorisches Journal, 45(2), 165–188. https://doi.org/10.25162/medhist-2010-0007