[Andrology and anthropology in the Talmud]. / Andrologie et anthropologie dans le corpus talmudique.

The article analyses andrological aspects of Hebrew medicine and legislation. A detailed analysis of the sources provides interesting testimonies about the practice of abstinence, sexual hygiene, evaluation of male pleasure, religious prohibitions, dangers of committing sexual excesses and forbidden practices as homosexuality.

[The physician in the Talmudic period: between technie and halakhah]. / Le médecin a l'époque du Talmud: entre techne et halakhah.

The Talmud is a vast corpus in which medicine is no more than an artifact. We can nevertheless, in the light of the extant data, gain some idea of the status of physicians in biblical and talmudic times. After some brief considerations on the biblical period, particularly on the relationship of priests and prophets to medicine, we shall focus on the talmudic data. Several Sages of note were knoledgeable in medical lore, mostly of popular origin, but in some cases of scientific origin as well. The most impressive case is that of Mar Samuel. A report of an experimentation in the field of embryology allegedly performed in Alexandria will be described. In all these cases, data pertaining to the healing art (techne) are recorded with the only aim of establishing the law (halakkah). We shall then detail what is known of the medical profession then and there, i.e., licensing, liability and fees. Some data on ethics and etiquette will close this overview of the practice of medicine in ancient Jewish lore.

[The Hebrew manuscript of Avicenna's Canon]. / Un chef d'oeuvre d'illustration médicale: le manuscrit hébraïque du Canon d'Avicenne (Ms. Bologne 2197).

The Hebrew manuscript of Avicenna's Canon, today in the University Library of Bologna (Ms 2197) dates from about the middle of the XVth century; it contains six full-page illuminations which have probably been performed by Northern-Italian artists. The study of the pictures may help modern comprehension of the relationships between medieval men, illnesses and ages of life, and it clarifies the profound ethical links correlating physicians with patients and their entourage. The text, written in Hebrew square capitals and Rashi italics, clearly shows how, on the threshold of Italian Renaissance, Hebrew was still considered, as Greek and Latin, one of the classical languages.