Text.BP035.a2r
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Source: Paracelsus, Die groote Chirurgie, ed. Pieter Volck, Antwerpen: Gillis Coppens van Diest, 1556, sig. a2r–a3v [BP035]
Summary: Peter Volck, a surgeon from Delft, addresses the city's authorities to share his motivations for translating a significant medical book from German into Dutch. He highlights the scarcity of valuable medical literature in Dutch, especially in the field of surgery, which he deems crucial for health, surpassing all other treasures. Volck criticizes existing surgical texts for their lack of practical benefit, pointing out the harmful advice and overly complex treatments found in works by Italian and French authors. He expresses concern about the misuse of dangerous prescriptions by poorly informed surgeons.
Volck praises the contributions of German scholars, especially Paracelsus, whose writings he has followed and found faultless over 14-15 years. He critiques the current state of surgical training and practice, noting the incompetence and lack of experience among young surgeons who, despite minimal training, are trusted with patients' lives. He condemns the practice of physicians attempting surgery without proper skills and the prevalence of non-professionals encroaching on surgical work.
Lastly, Volck explains his decision to publish the translation to correct the errors and misrepresentations in a previous version titled "The Pearl of Surgery," which he claims was corrupted and dangerously inaccurate. He expresses his determination to contribute positively to the field despite expecting envy and criticism from less competent practitioners. (generated by ChatGPT)
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Drie dinghen hebben my ghemoueert, seer voorsienighe wijse Heeren, desen boeck wt den Hoochduytsche in onse Nederlantsche tale te brenghen: Ten eersten, dat in dese tale soe weynich int licht comt aengaende dese scientie, welcke nochtans allen anderen in estime te bouen ghaet: want wat schat is op eerden die byder ghesontheyt ghelijcken mach worden, ick swijghe te bouen ghaen? Want wt allen boecken die tot noch toe inder Chirurgien met grooter moeyte geschreuen zijn, is ons weynich oft seer luttel profijts van ghecomen. Ende ick sorghe hadden sy[c1] sulcx niet meer ghedaen den grooten naem daer doer te vercrijgen, dan om de vruchten die met den wercken daer wt betoont worden, sij en souden noyt yet hebben gheschreuen. Maer die werelt is altijt van beghinsel so ghesint gheweest, dat sy[c2] altijt bemint tghene datter schijnt ende die ooren vult. This wel waer datter veel geschicte mannen gheweest hebben, die ons wat naghelaten hebben in haren schriften, maer daer is soe veel cafs ende oncruyts by, datmen nauwelijcken tgoede daer wt heeft connen scheyden.
Dat ick sulcx schrijue is daerom, want ick van mijnder kintsheyt op tot noch toe dit ambacht ghevolcht hebbe, ende derf wel segghen dat weynich Autoren inder Chirurgien gheschreuen hebben, die ick niet gelesen oft doersocht en hebbe. Ende als ick die waerheyt soude moeten segghen, soe beuinde ick meer fenijns by hun allen, dan remedie, sonderlinghe by den[c3] Italianen ende Françoysen, welcker wij noch sommighe boecken voorhanden hebben, als den Lantfrancum, Guidonem, Iohannem de Vigo, met den welcken noch huyden te daghe de Chirurgijns gheladen ghaen, als de catte met haren ionghen. Ende indyen men hun Recepten ende raet soude volghen, men souder wel thien vermoorden eer vier helpen: daer toe en isser nauwelijcken een Recept in hun, dat niet ten minsten een halue carre vol cruyts behoeft. Dyer isser noch meer, te weten, Nicolaus Massa, Iohannes Almenar, Nicolaus Leonicus, die veel int ghebreck der pocken geschreuen hebben, ende menich hondert doer haren quicsiluerschen raet vermoort, also dattet eenen verdrieten mach die om haren moort denct. Daer toe zijn oock onse Chirurgijns soe bot oft onverstandich (noch ouer al de cloecste willen wesen) datse alsulcke moortdadighe recepten ghebruycken, sonder verstant wat daer in ghecomponeert is oft niet. Ende na dese voorschreuen (hoe wel niet half genoemt, noch oock weert de namen ghespelt te worden) heeft God almachtich in Duyts- [sig. a2v] lant eenighe verwect die daer geschreuen hebben inder Chirurgien der wonden, namelijck de gheleerde ende wijse Doctor Hieronymus van Braunswijck, dwelck oock in onse Nederduytsche tale verandert is, ghenaemt Het hantwerck, maer is oock met groot ghebreck ghetranslateert. Daerna is ghecomen dat Veltboeck, gemaect by eenen Scheelhans geheeten, ende heeft sinen name daerom Veltboeck, om dattet te velde inden crijch, slachten, ende stormen geprobeert is. Dit is wel tbeste boeck gheweest inder Chirurgien datmen vinden mochte. Daer na is ghecomen dese weerde seer experte man Doctor Paracelsus wten Zwitser lande geboren, ende is dese alle te bouen ghegaen. Ia dat meer is, hy heeftet met den wercken ende schriften betoont, ende noch daghelijcx betoont, dat sijns schrijuens ghelijck niet gheweest en is so langhe de Sonne gheschenen heeft. Dat ick hem pryse, daer toe dwingt my de waerheyt, aenghesien ick sine schriften ende recepten ghevolcht ende ghebruyct hebbe meer dan veerthien oft vijfthien Iaren, ende hebbe (kenne God die mijn ghettuyge is) noyt faute in hem ghevonden. Ick heb hem wel gheprobeert ende versocht, ende my en is tot gheenen tijden eenich accident oft ongeluck wederuaren. Also verre ick sulcx metter waerheyt niet bevonden en hadde, so en wilde ick hem gheensins lauderen noch prijsen, want daer zijn boecken ghenoech die met loghenen ende ydelen clap veruult zijn, men behoefter gheen meer te maken.
Ten anderen, dat ick so langhen tijt ende noch daghelijcx sie tgroot ghebreck ende abuys in ons hantwerck, ende so luttel bekennen tot wat instrument ons God almachtich gheordineert ende gheset heeft: te weten, dat ons God heeft totten crancken ghevoecht als een middel, ende bermherticheyt den gequetsten gebreckelijcken zijn pijn ende smerte te benemen. Indyen nu alzulcke bermherticheit in ons niet en is (alzoot behoort, ende van Godt geordonneert is) hoe can ons dan Godt gunnen den crancken te helpen ende genesen? want tgene daer ons Godt in geschapen ende geordonneert heeft, te weten, dat tmedicament ende de Meester benomen worde byden crancken als een die de bermherticheit ende liefde volbringt van God: Ende niet alleen ooghe hebben op des crancken borsse ofte buydel, maer meer hoe wij de Godlijcke liefde ende bermherticheit volbringen sullen. In dwelck huyden daechs groot gebrec is: VVant den tijt is nv also, Als iemant ons ambacht leert ende eenen baert can scheeren, jae noch selfs sijn mes niet en can slijpen daer hy mede scheert, ic swyge meerder const te connen, zoo zendtmen sulcke jongers in walschlant ende Vrancrijc om die sprake te leeren, twelc te prijsen is, maer om scientie van onse Ampt te leeren is geen onbequamer lant onder den hemel dan daer. Tbeste dat men[c4] daer can als eenige accidenten oueruallen, dats terstont Corrosiuen, snijden, ende branden: ende dyer gelijcke diefhenckers pijne den luyden aen te doen, daer doch ander hulpe ende raet ghenoech is met sachtmoedicheyt. Als nu de Ionghers daer drie oft vier Iaer ghewoont hebben, ende hebben wel leeren pijpen, fluyten, dansen, alsdan comen wij thuys: ende hy heet Ian, men gheeft hem een wijf oft ionghe dochter, ende smorghens heet hy Meester Ian, this ghoet te be- [sig. a3r] vroeden wie alsulcken meester in so corten tijt ghemaect heeft: daer moeten dan die crancke haer leuen onder betrouwen: Ia wel tschaep den woluen gheleuert.
Ist sake dat nu alsulcken ionghen onbewanderden meester eenich accident in syne ghequetste ouervalt, alsdan weet den iongen gheenen raet, hy roept terstont noch drie oft vier oude te hulpe, die oock somtijts bewandert zijn ghelijck den meesten hoop is, te weten, sij hebben soe verre ghereyst daermen tbroot pain heet: dese en cunnen hun dan oock niet behelpen: dan wort mijn Heere de Doctor gheroepen alsoot betaemt, die sal dan mirakel doen: Die en kent dan de wonde niet, ende de Chirurgijns dat accident niet: men mach wel dencken wat crancker troost den ghequetsten daer geschiet. Noch willen die Medicijns mede Chirurgijns wesen, sij behoordent wel te wesen, maer sij zijn wel so vremt te vinden als den voghel Phœnix. Ick heb noch binnen eenenm Iare eenen Doctor ghesien dat gheen cleyn g.esel inder Chirurgien wesen wilde, die welcke van sommighe Meesters, haers raets ten eynde zijnde, te hulpe gheroepen werde by eenen ghequetsten raet te gheuen, ende hy raedde sulcx, dat sij onder hun drijen den vierden vermoorden: dwelck doch oneerlijck is, want eenen moordenaer stelt hem alleen teghen eenen man, lief teghen lief: maer hier warender wel drie op eenen man, ende soude ock de waerheyt segghen soe was het noch gheen man. Ick hebbe tanderen tijden ghesien in groote steden dat de Medicijns den Chirurgijns lessen voorlasen, onderwindende hun den Chirurgijns den rechten wech te leeren, Chirurgijnlick te handelen: dwelck doch den grootsten spot van al is, dat yemant eenen onderwint te leeren dat hy selfs niet en can: want ick heb dit ambacht feuenentwintich Iaer ghevolcht, ick en sach noch noyt eenighen Medicijn die een goet Chirurgus was. Sullen dan die wercken den meester prijsen, soe ist betamelijck den ghenen te luysteren die sulcx can, als dese weerde excellente man, wiens schriften alle andere te bouen gaen, ghelijck inde wercken betoont sal worden: want wie hem te recht verstaet ende gebruyct, sal in corten tijden zijn wit salfken met die eyplaester wechworpen, dwelck soe menich mensche gheschent ende bedoruen heeft. Ende indyen de Chirurgijns dees mans raet willen volghen, so sullen sij wel andere gheachte mannen worden, noch en sal niet meer geschieden dat een out wijf, baghine, en dyergelijcke den meester twerck wter hant neemt, ghelijck nu op veel plaetsen geschiet, dwelck hun de sommighe wel schamen moghen die hun dees Ampts beroemen. Ick hope oock mijn voorsienige wijse Heeren sullen op sulcx regart nemen: want daer is nau een vercken dat in dese const hem niet gewentelt en heeft. Een out wijf betaemde wel eenen spinrock, ende eender baghijne haer oorden te voldoene, soe mocht een ambachtsman lust ende liefde tot zijn werck hebben.
God almachtich voeghe na synen Godlijcken wille dat mijn E[dele] Heeren haer seluen in alsulcken punt willen bevrijen, dat sij gheen cause en zijn van alsulcken misbruyck, daer menich mans leuen aen hangt, ende so menich mensche vermoort wort, dat niet al te vertellen en is.
[sig. a3v] Ten derden ende lesten is de sake waerom ick dit hebbe laten wtgaen in deser spraken, om dat dit boeck eens is ghetranslateert ende gheintituleert De peerle der Chirurgien, dwelck boeck teenemael valsch ende ghecorrompeert is, also datter niet een Capittel en is dat ses regulen heeft die Doctors Paracelsus schriften ghelijcken, ja groote fauten inde Recepten zijn, ende daer toe noch ander Recepten daer in gheset die Paracelsus noyt ghedacht heeft te setten, dies ick my verwondere. Also den tytel luydet, theeft een gheleert man gedaen, Philippus Hermanni ghenaemt. Ick soude met oorloue wel doruen segghen, dattet een gheleert buffel ende beest is gheweest, want ten is noyt van verstandige gheleerde mannen ghesien, dat sij eenich dinck translateren ende sulcx corromperen, settende fenijn voor medicijn, als den beminden leser wel sien mach. Daerom machmen wel segghen dattet een plage is inder werelt, waer God wat goets den menschen gunnet, daer comt die duyuel ende benijdet sulcx, ende en mach doer zijn inuidie niet lijden dat den menschen eenige deucht gheschiet. Summa hoet gaet, altijt wil den muysendreck hem onder dat peper menghen.
Ick weet seker dat my desen arbeyt van vele die hun Meesters laten noemen benijt sal worden, die hun daghelijcx dwerck van onnut volck, als oude wijuen, weuers, ende diergelijcke, wt de hant laten nemen, ende moeten lijden dat sij van alsulcken geselschap beschaemt worden, verlaten dicwils den crancken ongeholpen, ende andere in hun werck treden daer sij schandelijcken wt scheyden, noch euenwel willende Meesters geheeten worden: wat daer af is, late ick allen discreten luyden die lust ter waerheyt hebben, oordelen. Aen sulcx benijden en stoot ick my niet, hebbe dit alleen bestaen wt iammer dat die crancke gequetste so schandelijcken verdoruen worden, ende naemaels nauwelijck yemant helpen en can: op datse mochten tleuen behouden so lange het hun God gunnet, ende van alsulcken menschenschenders bevrijt worden.
Hier mede wille ick my beuelen aen mijne E[dele] voorsienighe, wijse Heeren, onder uwer E[dele] protectien, als een onderdanich gewillich dienaer in alles my moghelijck zijnde, kenne God die mijn E[dele] Heeren wil bewaren voor raet ende daet den ghemeenen profiit hinderliick ende teghens ziinde.
Datum Delft den .XXIII. Martij. Anno. M. D. LV.
Peter Volck Holst Chirurgus.
Apparatus
Corrections
Modern English Raw Translation
Three things have motivated me, esteemed and wise Lords, to translate this book from German into our Dutch language: Firstly, because so little is published in this language concerning this science, which nevertheless surpasses all others in esteem. For what treasure on earth can compare to health, let alone surpass it? From all the books written on surgery thus far, with great effort, we have derived little or no benefit. And I worry that if they hadn't been motivated more by the desire to gain a great reputation than by the outcomes of their work, they might never have written anything at all. But the world has always been such that it loves appearances and what pleases the ears. It's true that many capable men have left us their writings, but there's so much chaff and weeds mixed in that it's hard to separate the good from the bad.
I write this because from my youth until now, I have pursued this craft, and I dare say that there are few authors in surgery whose works I haven't read or examined. And to tell the truth, I found more harm than remedy in their writings, especially among the Italians and French, some of whose books we still have, such as those by Lanfranc, Guido, and Giovanni da Vigo, which even today burden surgeons like a cat with her kittens. If one were to follow their prescriptions and advice, ten might be killed before four could be helped. And there's hardly a recipe among them that doesn't require at least half a cartload of herbs. And there are others, like Nicolaus Massa, Johannes Almenar, and Nicolaus Leonicus, who wrote extensively on the treatment of syphilis, leading many to death with their mercury treatments, which is disheartening to think about. Moreover, our surgeons are so dull or ignorant (yet still wish to be considered the cleverest) that they use such deadly prescriptions without understanding their compositions. And following these aforementioned authors (who are not even worth naming in full), God Almighty in Germany has raised some who have written on the surgery of wounds, notably the learned and wise Doctor Hieronymus of Brunswick, whose work has also been translated into our Dutch language, named "The Craft," but it too was poorly translated. Then came the "Field Book," created by someone called Scheelhans, named so because it was tested in the field during wars, slaughters, and storms. This has been the best book in surgery one could find. Then came the very worthy and expert Doctor Paracelsus from Switzerland, who surpassed all others. Indeed, he has demonstrated through his works and writings a level of expertise unmatched as long as the sun has shone. I praise him out of necessity, for the truth compels me, having followed and used his writings and prescriptions for more than fourteen or fifteen years. And God, my witness, knows I have never found fault in him. I have tested him thoroughly, and never once did any mishap befall me. If I had not found this to be true, I would not praise or commend him, for there are enough books filled with lies and idle talk; we don't need to create more.
Secondly, I see a great lack and abuse in our craft every day and still recognize so little of what instrument God Almighty has ordained and set for us: namely, that God has appointed us to the sick as a means, and mercy to relieve the pain and suffering of the injured. If such mercy is not within us (as it should be, and as ordained by God), how can God then grant us the ability to help and heal the sick? For what God has created and ordained in us, namely, that the medicine and the doctor should be received by the sick as one who fulfills God's mercy and love. And not only to look after the sick person's purse or wallet but rather how we can fulfill divine love and mercy. In which there is a great lack today: For the times are such that if someone learns our craft and can shave a beard, yes, even if he cannot sharpen his razor, I say nothing of possessing greater skill, such apprentices are sent to foreign lands like France to learn the language, which is commendable, but to learn the science of our Profession, there is no land less suitable than there. The best one can do there when any accidents happen is to immediately use corrosives, cut, and burn: and other such executioner's tortures to inflict on people, where there is enough other help and advice available with gentleness. When these apprentices have lived there for three or four years and have learned to play the pipe, flute, and dance, then they return home: and he is called Jan, they give him a wife or young daughter, and in the morning he is called Master Jan, it's good to wonder who made such a master in such a short time: then the sick must entrust their lives to them: Yes, like sheep to the wolves.
If such a young, inexperienced master encounters any accidents in his injured patients, then the young one knows no remedy, he immediately calls for three or four old ones for help, who are also often as inexperienced as the majority, namely, they have traveled as far as where bread is called "pain": these also cannot help themselves: then my Lord the Doctor is called as is fitting, who will then perform miracles: He does not know the wound, and the surgeons do not know the accident: one can imagine what poor comfort this brings to the injured. Moreover, the physicians also want to be surgeons, they should indeed be, but they are as rare to find as the phoenix bird. Within a year, I saw a Doctor who wanted to be a great deal in surgery, who, when some masters were at their wits' end for advice, was called to give advice to an injured person, and he advised such that the three of them killed the fourth: which is disgraceful, for a murderer sets himself against one man, life against life: but here there were three against one man, and to tell the truth, it was not even a man. I have seen in large cities at other times that physicians gave lectures to surgeons, presuming to teach the surgeons the right way to handle surgery: which is the greatest mockery of all, that someone presumes to teach what he himself cannot do: for I have followed this craft for twenty-five years, I have never seen a physician who was a good surgeon. If the works are to praise the master, then it is fitting to listen to one who can do it, like this worthy excellent man, whose writings surpass all others, as will be demonstrated in the works: for whoever understands and uses him correctly will soon throw away his white ointment and the plaster for the eyes, which has disfigured and ruined so many people. And if the surgeons want to follow this man's advice, they will become other respected men, and it will no longer happen that an old woman, beguine, and the like take the work out of the master's hands, as now happens in many places, which some who boast of this Profession might well be ashamed of. I also hope that my prudent wise Lords will take notice of this: for there is hardly a pig that has not wallowed in this art. An old woman would do well with a spinning wheel, and a beguine to satisfy her ears, so an artisan might have pleasure and love for his work.
May Almighty God, according to His divine will, enable my Honorable Lords to extricate themselves from such abuses, which many men's lives depend on, and so many people are killed, that it cannot all be told.
Thirdly and lastly, the reason I have published this in our language is because this book was once translated and titled "The Pearl of Surgery," which book is entirely false and corrupted, so that there is not a single chapter that has six rules resembling Doctor Paracelsus's writings, yes, there are great errors in the recipes, and moreover, other recipes have been added that Paracelsus never thought to include, which astonishes me. As the title suggests, it was done by a learned man named Philippus Hermanni. With your permission, I dare say that it was done by a learned fool and beast, for it has never been seen by sensible learned men to translate something and corrupt it so, substituting poison for medicine, as the beloved reader can well see. Therefore, it can be said that it is a plague in the world, where God grants something good to mankind, there comes the devil and envies it, and cannot bear through his envy that any good should happen to mankind. In short, however it goes, always the mouse droppings want to mix with the pepper.
I am certain that this work of mine will be envied by many who call themselves Masters, who let their work be taken out of their hands by useless people, like old women, weavers, and the like, every day, and must suffer to be shamed by such company, often leaving the sick unhelped, and others stepping into their work from which they depart in disgrace, yet still wanting to be called Masters: what comes of it, I leave to all discreet people who have a taste for truth, to judge. I am not put off by such envy, I have undertaken this solely out of pity that the injured sick are so shamefully ruined, and afterwards hardly anyone can help them: so that they might keep their lives as long as God grants it to them, and be freed from such murderers.
With this, I commend myself to my Honorable prudent, wise Lords, under your protection, as a dutiful willing servant in all things possible for me, may God preserve my Honorable Lords for advice and action detrimental and contrary to the common good.
Dated in Delft, the 23rd of March, Anno 1555.
Peter Volck Holst, Surgeon.