The Mediation of Poisoning. Magic Embedded in Everyday Medical Knowledge
The Mediation of Poisoning. Magic Embedded in Everyday Medical Knowledge

Author(s): Emese Bálint
Subject(s): Cultural history, Customs / Folklore, Modern Age, Culture and social structure , Health and medicine and law, 16th Century
Published by: Historický ústav SAV
Keywords: magic; medicinal practice; poisoning; 16th century; illnes; social rituals; culture;
Summary/Abstract: For depicting one form of magic knowledge in the sixteenth century, I will use a case study to show how health, illness and healing were understood in the past, how people perceived their own bodies, and how they communicated bad conditions to others. The starting point of my presentation is a trial record from 1572, which I found in the Romanian State Archives in Cluj (Kolozsvár/Klausenburg). A woman brought the case to the court and accused her son-in-law, a barber, of poisoning his wife, the woman’s daughter. Analysing the witnesses’ depositions, I show that understanding the cause, nature and meaning of illness illustrates not only the medical pluralism of the past, but implies complex social rituals involving family and community as well.

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