Tab Article

Genre: Medical History, Poetry, Health, Medieval Literature, Translation
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Book Review:
The School of Salernum: Regimen Sanitatis Salerni is a fascinating historical treasure—a medieval health guide rendered into English verse by Sir John Harington, a courtier, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Originally composed in Latin at the renowned medical school of Salerno (11th–12th centuries), this text was one of the most influential health manuals in Europe for centuries, offering advice on diet, hygiene, sleep, exercise, and herbal remedies in poetic form.

Harington’s translation, first published in the early 17th century, preserves both the practical wisdom and the rhythmic charm of the original. The work reflects the holistic medical philosophy of its time, blending classical humoral theory with folk knowledge and moral counsel. Lines such as “Use three physicians still: first Doctor Quiet, Next Doctor Merry-man, and Doctor Diet” have become proverbial.

This edition is primarily of interest to historians of medicine, literature scholars, and readers curious about pre-modern wellness traditions. While not a practical health manual by today’s standards, it offers a vivid window into how health, nature, and daily living were understood in the medieval and Renaissance periods.

A valuable piece of cultural heritage, The School of Salernum is both an educational resource and a literary curiosity—a reminder that the pursuit of well-being through balanced living is an age-old human endeavor. Recommended for collectors of medical history or early English translations.