The Origin of Medicine

And so, O Lord, I have laid down the humble dedication dedicatiuncula original: dedicatiunculam. A diminutive form, emphasizing the author's humility in offering this "little dedication" to God. of my book in the native tongue before Your most high Throne; specifically, the melody of my purpose, that suffering of my neighbor which You did not disdain to cast down upon me. To You be all honor! I proceed now to make known to my neighbor the wretched ignorance of the Pagans Ethnicorum inscitia, by which those who are Your sick have hitherto been led astray by the Academies The author refers to traditional universities, which he believes teach medical theories derived from ancient Greek (pagan) sources like Galen, rather than through divine inspiration or the study of nature., and thus miserably destroyed, notwithstanding the Prophetic commandment issued in Your name:

Thus says the Lord: Do not teach in the manner of the nations. original Latin: Hoc dicit Dominus; Nolite docere, ad instar gentium. This is a variation of Jeremiah 10:2, which traditionally warns against learning the ways of the heathens.

Therefore, O Lord! grant that my soul may retain the gifts granted to it for Your honor, so that I may impress Your Goodness—the portion of my debt—upon my neighbor in this Way of Death. Be to me, O Lord, my every Pole-star, You who alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This is the only thing we ought to love. You, my Angel, Guardian, and Intercessor, who behold the Almighty Good, obtain in my name that which I lack; follow in the footsteps of Raphael, (the Divine Physician) original: Medici Divini. In the biblical tradition, the Archangel Raphael is the angel of healing. who carried to God the works of burial for the dead performed by night A reference to the Book of Tobit, where the Archangel Raphael recounts how he brought the record of Tobit’s pious acts—including burying the dead at night—before the Holy One.; carry to God this work now performed in the night of my darkness, taking diligent care that man hereafter might not be so destroyed, nor undergo death so quickly. Offer this my work before the Most Holy Trinity Sacro-sancta Trinitas; to whom I dedicate it! Do so, for the Glory of God DEI Gloria!