Richard's prescribed medicines

Over the holidays I read a fascinating article about Harleian ms. 1628, which includes a list of medicines prescribed for named individuals of the Yorkist courts of Edward IV and Richard III. The article included a transcription of the complete list. It's confusing, having no dates or regnal years, not always naming the prescribing physician, and with pro rege (for the king) appearing several times without specifying if the king is Edward or Richard (I think Edward more likely).

But, Richard definitely appears four times. When Duke of Gloucester he is referred to as domino [duce] gloucestr[i]e; when king he is simply called Ricardi. Here are his known prescriptions, in the order they appear in the manuscript (which is very random), and which may be of some interest:

#1: Preservativum Ricardi

- dates to Richard's reign

- no prescribing physician named

- This was apparently the 15th-century equivalent of a flu shot, to guard against pestilence.

- I can't resist speculating that his physicians may have prescribed it to protect him from Anne's last illness. It would make sense if they took more precautions besides forbidding him to sleep with her.

#2: Stomaticon Ricardi

- dates to Richard's reign

- no prescribing physician named

- It's on the same page as the preservativum but I can't tell from the transcript if it was part of the same prescription.

- I found two different explanations of stomaticon: either for sore mouth or digestive or purgative electuary.

#3: Preservativus contra pestem for domino duce gloucestrie

- dates to Edward IV's reign, any time up to 1477/78

- prescribing physician William Hattecliffe (also Edward IV's secretary)

- another flu shot

- Richard isn't the only patient named in this prescription; also included is domino duce clarence (brother George, executed Feb. 1477/78).

#4: Aqua tuthie for domino gloucestre

- dates to Edward IV's reign, any time up to 1480

- prescribing physician William Hattecliffe again (died 1480)

- Again, Richard isn't the only patient here. Three other men are listed in this prescription, although the article only identified one of them (Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex).

- The article described tuthie (or tutty) as a crude oxide of zinc used for eyes. I looked it up for more details but came across different explanations: either for eye discharges or to rid the eyes of dark circles, wrinkles, and bags. Somehow I doubt it was the latter! That other people had the same problem at the same time makes me wonder if the court may have seen a small outbreak of conjunctivitis, which I think (?) can be spread by contact.

- Whatever the problem was, it kind of alarms me that when I looked up zinc oxide I found a lot of 21st-century warnings to keep it away from the eyes! Poor Richard, this may indeed have been a cure worse than the illness.

To me this is another glimpse of the human being behind the legends & and a reminder that I am way overdue for a flu shot. :)

Cathy