On the Usefulness of the Parts, Vol. II

codex of the 14th century, which, after the various readings of the seventeenth book were examined, I persuaded myself were not of much value for revising the text.

Of even less value is the Palatinus 251 (P) codex of the 15th century, which, as I learned by collating the first book, corresponds to the codex D to a surprising degree.

Of the same kind is the Marcianus 287 codex of the 15th century, which also displays the verse "Christ, King, give your immortal help to those suffering," together with the inscription "Galen's seventeen books On the Use of the Parts in the Human Body." I collated the beginning of the first book with no profit.

Nor did I understand that the Mutinensis codex 219, written in the 16th century, should be valued any higher after reviewing the variation of readings that Otto Staehlin described for me from the seventeenth book. It displays the same subscription as Parisinus D and the two Laurentiani: "This whole book shows the art of Galen | to the children of physicians, accurately and eloquently (?). | For in this one [book], having arranged seventeen letters [books], | he set forth the use of all parts for them | and indeed one of good sense [knows] the good, crafty works | having learned from this how many [parts] nature [has] woven. Finding the end of the book, I rejoice, O word."

What is to be determined about the remaining codices, which H. Diels, The Manuscripts of the Ancient Physicians, Part I, p. 68 mentions—the Cantabrigiensis 47, the two London [manuscripts] of the British Museum, the Parisinus 2281, the Coislinianus 333, the Vaticanus Passioneianus 2, the Venetus appendix class V 9—I do not know; since they all seem to be of a more recent age, I doubt whether they will bring much help for emending the text. Indeed, I would consider the Venetian codex a twin of codex B, because in it too the first three books are missing and the last book ends in the same words ("either the moon or some of").

Besides the codices, those writers of a later age who excerpted Galen's very extensive work must be regarded in the practice of critical art. And first indeed, Oribasius, by the order of Emperor Julian, composed seventy books of Medical Collections in such a way that he excerpted almost word for word from the writings of famous physicians what [is useful] for students of medicine.