[Aztlan] For Kim and others; a timely book

[michael ruggeri]

Badiano Codex, Key to Study Indigenous Medicine


I have re-printed this from INAH since this book comes at a timely  
moment for our listserv.

Mike Ruggeri


Created in 16th Century
Returned to Mexico in 1990 by the Vatican, the De la Cruz-Badiano  
Codex, considered the first medical book of the new World, was  
digitalized and edited in a compact disc by the National Institute of  
Anthropology and History (INAH), to be presented in June 17th 2009,  
with the comments of Miguel Leon Portilla, who was part of the  
committee in charge of negotiating the devolution if the ancient  
manuscript.


This new digitalized version of the codex is part of the Codices of  
Mexico Series, INAH project that presents these documents in a digital  
format to promote them and motivate research. The original is lodged  
at the National Library of Anthropology and History (BNAH) under  
strict conservation and safety measures.


“The De la Cruz- Badiano Codex is a treasure that awakes even more the  
interest towards indigenous medicine” declared Dr. Miguel Leon  
Portilla, who considers it one of the 5 existent historical sources  
that allows knowing uses and customs of ancient indigenous peoples  
regarding their medical treatments.


The other primary sources referred by Portilla are: the 9th book of  
the General History of the Things of New Spain, by Bernardino de  
Sahagun; the natural history of New Spain, by Francisco Hernandez; 2  
untitled, one in Maya and other by Francisco Jimenez; all of them  
allow us to know natural remedies with a native gaze, recalled the  
author of “Viewpoint of the Defeated”.


The historian added that when he was part of the United Nations  
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Committee  
for the Restitution of Cultural Goods, the Holy See was asked to  
return the Badiano Codex guarded at the Vatican Library.


He recalled that his teacher Angel Maria Garibay translated the  
ancient botanic medicine document from Latin to Spanish “Libellus de  
Medicinalibus Indorum Herbus” created by Juan Badiano, indigenous who  
translated it from Nahuatl to Latin.


This ancient manuscript has a unique story: it was ordered by Viceroy  
Antonio de Mendoza, who died days later in Peru; later his son  
Francisco de Mendoza went to the Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco College to  
ask for its elaboration in less than 2 months to send it to Spain,  
mentioned Leon Portilla.


De la Cruz-Badiano Codex was written by physician (ticitl) Martin de  
la Cruz from the Santa Cruz College; years later, he was authorized to  
practice medicine all over New Spain.


Juan Badiano, scribe (tlacuilo) from Xochimilco, wrote in Latin the  
medical knowledge obtained and dictated by Martin de la Cruz, where  
the use of remedies was detailed.


Leon Portilla mentioned that the manuscript was a present from Viceroy  
Mendoza to Philip II, who guarded it in El Escorial Library. Years  
later it was sold to Diego de Cortavila, druggist of Philip IV.  
Afterward, it formed part of the Cardinal Barberini heap, who sent it  
to Vatican Library.


With the occasion of the first edition of the digitalized manuscript,  
the seventh of the Codices of Mexico Series, in June 17th 2009 the  
round table “Dialogues about De la Cruz-Badiano Codex” will take  
place, with the participation of Miguel Leon Portilla, Fernando Ortiz  
Monasterio, Laura Elena Sotelo Santos and Carlos Viesca Treviño.