OČI, KOSTI I ZUBI U RIJEČKOME STATUTARNOM PRAVU XVI. STOLJEĆA

Abstract

The 16th century statute law or the town of Rijeka treats the eye in two ways. First, it stipulates a severe punishment for deliberate “eye plucking”. Second, for those who commit this crime, it specifies “eye plucking” as a corporeal punishment (following the eye-for-an-eye principle). The 1530 Statute of Rijeka also pays considerable attention to the bones. Bone breaking by means of intentional or unintentional blow was fined 25 libras (pounds) for the following bones: thighbone, forearm and hand bones, lower leg bone, and foot bone. A fine of 10 libras applied for all other intentional or unintentional bone breaking by a blow. Legal protection of teeth involved a fine of five libras for each of the teeth blown out, and half the fine for a broken tooth. Both fines applied whether the offence was done on purpose or not.