Elminthes

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Elminthes .g. lumbrici rotundi.


Translation:

Elminthes is Greek for intestinal roundworms.


Commentary:

This entry refers to the Greek word ἕλμινς /helmins/; mostly found in plural as ἕλμινθες /helminthes/. The medieval pronunciation is /elminthes/.

Although Greek and Byzantine medical authors usually describe elminthes either as flat (πλατεῖαι) or round (στρογγύλαι), Simon refers only to roundworms.

For example, see Dioscorides, De materia medica, 4, 191, ed. Wellmann (1906-14: II.339) [[1]]; and Alexander of Tralles, Epistula de lumbricis, ed. Puschmann (1878-9: II. 587), lines 13-4 [[2]].

Further discussion in Ongaro (1964-5: 119-43).


See also: Elmigx


--Petros Bouras-Vallianatos 12:43, 25 October 2011 (BST)

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