Remembered Remedies from England? An Early Veterinary Charm at St. Gall

A cryptic ninth-century veterinary charm, discovered in the Abbey of St. Gall's miscellany (Cod. Sang. 732), suggests early medieval cross-Channel medical exchanges. The formula—featuring assonance, alliteration, and rhyme—was inscribed in a separate hand, hinting at an English origin. Analysis reveals parallels with Anglo-Saxon and continental manuscripts, offering new insights into pre-modern veterinary practices. This is the first study to examine such a charm in comparative context.

Cooijmans, C. (2020). Remembered Remedies from England? An Early Veterinary Charm at St. Gall. Notes and Queries, 67(1), 6–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/notesj/gjz188