PLEHANSKA LJEKARUŠA “ZBIRKA LIJEKOVA SA ZBIRKOM LJEKOVITIH TRAVA I UPUTOM ZA PRAVIT MELEME I MURĆEFE”

Abstract

The paper describes the manuscript containing a collection of folk recipes (so-called “ljekaruša”) which was written in the second half of 19 th century. The manuscript was found in the archives of the Plehan Friary (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Its author and the place of origin are not known. Two different handwritings are discernible suggesting that two authors, probably Franciscians, are involved. The collection contains 56 recipes for human medical practice and 3 recipes for vet- erinary use. One recipe contain advice for household. The list of plants for medical use with Croatian and Latin names is included. This list and several recipes were also found in Mijo Nikolić , s manuscript from 1868. The language of the manuscript is rather ununiform, which suggests that different sources of the recipes were used. Materia medica of the collection is mostly composed of drugs prepared from plant mate- rial of domestic origin. Recipes having animal and mineral origin are also included, but to a lesser extent. Deseases are called by folk names and are frequently referred to as symptoms. Ways of preparing remedies and terms used in recipes are discussed and compared with common pharmaceutical procedures and terms. A glossary of less known and obsolete words is given as well. The complete, uncorrected version of the manuscript is enclosed at the end to enable a multidiciplinary approach to the text.