time. Boccage and other writers, place him, as regards science, on a par with Solomon.* He was an eloquent orator, and also philosopher; a learned physician, and profoundly versed in the most abstract theological subjects. He took pleasure only in the conversation of learned men; he loved to hear them read their works, and bestowed upon them commendations and rewards. He invited to his court, all those who had any reputation, and even those whom he did not invite, presented themselves, well assured of being received with that welcome which they merited. Finally, he collected at great expense, a very valuable library, which he entrusted to the care of Paul de Perouse, one of the most learned men of his time.

Among the numerous works contained in this library, there were many in Hebrew, which king Robert caused to be translated into Latin, by his Jewish Physician, particularly the works of Jehuda ben Moseh Romano, as we read at the end of a work of this learned man found in MSS. in the Royal Library of Paris.t

LIX.

THE ANAVIM FAMILY.

We could not speak of the Jewish physicians of Italy without taking notice of the Anavim family, which bears the title of physician, (Rofé) from the fact of this science being hereditary in this celebrated family. The most distinguished members of the house of Anavim, are Benjamin Rofé and Abraham Rofé, who flourished at Rome, in the reign of Innocent III, of whom, they were most probably the physicians. The glory connected with their name was transmitted to their descendants, who were very celebrated for their literary works, such as Jehuda son of Benjamin, and his two brothers Zedkia and Jekuthiel, Benjamin and Zedkia, sons of Abraham the physician.

The first is named in the Sefer Hilchoth, of Alfesi, which he

*BOCCAGE, Genealogia Deorum, let. xiv. chap. 9. Benvenate da Imola. Comment in Dant. Antiq. Itat. t. v. p. 1035.

† Ancien fonds, No. 444.

VOL. II.-No. 4.

7

wrote in 1247, to the Rabbi Solomon ben Elia,* Jehuda Iaaleh, son of Benjamin ha-Anav, a name by which he is also designated by the author of the book Sibulé ha-Lekat, as has been already sufficiently explained.† He was an excellent interpreter, and has left us commentaries on the said Sefer Hilchoth, which are found in MSS. in the Royal Library of Paris,‡ with other books of his composition. The second, Zedkiah, a younger brother of Jehuda, is mentioned in terms of eulogy, by his namesake and cousin german, the author of Sibulé ha Lekat. The third Jékuthiel, has the merit of having given being and education to a great moralist, the pious Jéchiel, author of the excellent work Mealoth ha-Middoth. The fourth, Benjamin, son of Abraham Rofé, left many works to posterity. One of these, entitled the Fourteen Doors, is found in MSS. in the Royal Library of Paris. The fifth, Zedkiah, younger brother of the preceding and pupil of Jehuda Iaaleh, is the author of the book Sibulé ha-Lekat, already mentioned. It contains an exposition of every thing referring to the religious rites and ceremonies of the Jews. This book is unpublished, but a very good abridgement of it has been printed.

A descendant of this learned family, the pious Menachem Rofé Anav, lived at Rome, where he died in the odour of sanctity.* This is probably the same doctor, with Menachem Zemach ben Abraham Rofé, ben Benjamin, ben Jechiel, who transcribed in 1322 and 23, many manuscripts quoted by doct. Zuuz of Berlin.††

S LX.

LOWER EMPIRE.

The view which medicine in general presents, during the continuance of the Lower Empire, deserves a little attention.

* MSS. de la Bibliotheque royale de Paris, fonds Sorbonne, No. 222.

+ See Koré ha-Doroth, p. 24.

We

Fonds Sorbonne, No. 199. § MSS. de la Bibliotheque Royale, fonds Sorbonne, No. 59, 29, 71, 90, 113, 158, &c. || MSS. Heb. de la Bibliotheque Royale de Paris, fonds Sorbonne. No. 217. Ibid. No. 246. ** EMMANUEL, Macheberoth, xxviii.

tt GEICER, Wissensch. Zeitschr fur Jud. theolog. tom. iv. pag. 192.

will find perhaps during this period some observations, collected in the hospitals, which were established about that time at Constantinople, and in many other of the cities of Greece, and of Europe and Asia;* but there were only scattered reports, with which we are not occupied at the present time. The Karaites were perhaps the best physicians of this empire, for we always find them occupied with this art, and as we have seen it in their hands at the end of the thirteenth century, we find it still there at the beginning of the fourteenth. Ahron ben Eliá was born at this period at Nicomedia, the ancient capital of Bithynia. This celebrated man was distinguished both as a philosopher and physician. He professed his art at Constantinople, where he died in the month of September, 1369. Ahron ben Eliá is next to Ahron ben Josef, the most highly esteemed writer among the Karaites. The following is a catalogue of his works.

1st. Ez Chaim, the Tree of Life. This work was finished in 1366, is a philosophical and theological treatise, almost of the same class, as the Moré Nebouchim of Maimonides. Mardocheus ben Nissimt eulogises greatly this work, and which in truth is deserving of being read.

2d. Sefer Mizvoth, book of Precepts, a work divided into twenty-five treatises, almost in the class of the Mischna Torah of Maimonides, the author finished it 1354.

3d. Kether Torah, the Crown of the Law, a literal commentary on the Pentateuch, composed as the author has himself informed us, in the beginning of his work in 1362. The first of these works bears also the title of Nozer Emunim, as has been well established by the learned doctor Delitzsch in his Aperçu on this book.

*CABANIS, Revol, de la médecine, page 116.

† Dod. Mardochaï, chap. xi. p. 14.

See Serapeum, year 1840, Nos. 11 and 12.

N. B.-The European Exchange, the Bulletin Medical de Belge, from whose pages we have translated the articles on the history of the Jewish Physicians, not having been received for some time, we fear it has been discontinued; we regret this, as we should have been gratified at being able to lay the work in full before the readers of this Journal, but we must of necessity suspend the record thus abruptly. If it should be received at a future time the series of articles may be completed in a different form, but time must determine that matter.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

On Regimen and Longevity, comprising Materia Alimentaria, National Dietetic usages, and the influence of Civilization on Health and the duration of Life. By JOHN BELL, M.D. lecturer on Materia Medica, Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Member of the American Philosophical Society.

WE hail as a movement which is destined to exert a most potent influence in improving the moral, intellectual and social condition of man, the efforts now making by distingushed members of the medical profession to diffuse among the people information relating to the laws of their own systems, and the influence of diet and other agents in promoting comfort and existence. The mind is just awaking to the importance of this subject, comprehending, as it does, the most interesting considerations, for it is now rendered almost demonstrable, that a very large class of the affections of the system which interfere most with human happiness and enjoyment, are dependent on its derangement, arising from transgression of those laws which are laid down for the government of the body, and which are as fixed and invariable as those which rule the planets in the vast regions of illimitable space, or binds them in their orbits to obey the commands of the great governor of the universe. The transgression of these laws is inevitably followed by punishment; it may be slow in exhibiting itself; the transgressor flatters himself that he has escaped with impunity, but he finds to his cost his fatal error; slow chronic disease is lighted up which smoulders unnoticed in the system until important organs are crippled and so materially deranged, that the wheels of life clog heavily on their course, and by an accumulated retardation gradually yield to the disorganizing influence, until they are arrested forever. But let it not be supposed that ample and sufficient warning has not been given during the whole period, the preservative principle of the system which ever watches over its integrity, had raised the voice of caution, first in the gentle whisper of the slight uneasiness which was disregarded in the calls of business or of pleasure, then in the more urgent tones of pain increasing louder, and more emphatically its warning, until being yet unheeded, so serious a condition of the system is produced, that it overmasters all other considerations. Then suffering, and anguish, and anxiety absorb the whole being, the delights of pleasure, the value of wealth, or the rewards of ambition sink in his view, and health, alas, never truly valued until lost forever, becomes in his eyes the jewel of great price, to procure which, he would indeed be willing to sell all his possessions. Then does he spend wearisome days and tossing nights in unavailing regrets, at having so cruelly neglected the warn

ings of the faithful sentinel. Then does he apply to the members of the medical profession, but too often their best skill can only sooth and palliate his sufferings. Often disheartened, he goes through the whole range of fashionable medication. The fountains of health, north and south, are faithfully visited, or the whole class of empirics are tried with a fidelity and earnestness deserving of a much better reward than is usually the result. It is time, full time, that the public mind should be disabused of an important error, that of relying too much on specific remedies in organic diseases. Let a general knowledge of the laws of the human system be diffused among the people, and the influence of diet and other agents which exert their power over the system, and the way is prepared for an important reform, destined to exert a most happy influence over the well-being of mankind; then will the members of the medical profession be applied to as advisers against the approach of disease; and science and skill called into action when they may be eminently useful, and not delayed until brought in as a last alternative to palliate the feelings of the friends, that at least all was done that human skill could exert.

No medical man in this country has applied his acknowledged powers of mind, and the stores of sound learning more faithfully, or to a better purpose, than the author of the work now under consideration; as the principal editor of the Journal of Health, a work of great value, and which was a loss to the community, . when owing to causes not under the control of its editors, it stopped. He exerted a great and salutary influence through the columns of this periodical, which circulated by thousands over the Union. The doctor has been unwearied in bearing his part in the various plans for the improvement of the moral and social condidition of his countrymen, carrying into active practice the principles inculcated in his writings; the present work is still further carrying out the principles advocated, and embraces an amount of matter well worthy of the attention of every member of the community.

He directs the importance of attention to the public health, refers to its value in the opinion of the legislators of various nations in all ages of the world, alludes to the influence of liberty and civilization in increasing the mean duration of life, gives a very interesting and classic account written in graphic style of the food of various nations, examines the statistics of intemperance in various countries, dévotes several chapters to a detailed consideration of the various kinds of food, vegetable, animal and mixed; to the subject drinks, water, alcoholic and intoxicating in general. In this important division of his subject, the author comes out in plain terms, and calls things by their right names. Having been cognizant of the progress of the temperance cause in this country, having stood by its banks and considered that dark river of crime and misery and death which threatened to inundate in one common ruin every thing valuable in our land. He is inspired to cry alound and spare not, under a stern impulse of duty he raises the warning voice, for from his profession and his attention to the details of this subject, he has grasped the whole mass of human misery that has been produced by it, and he feels it a solemn duty of every true patriot, philanthropist and christian, to do all in his power to offer his time, his talents, and his influence on the altar of his country, to arrest this fearful and desolating evil.

The work is concluded by a most important chapter on longevity, causes favor