starry medical wisdom

''tracing the origin and spread of a symbol is always a fascinating and often a worthwhile pursuit. ... a curious medical symbol which, as such, is now completely forgotten, notably the pentagram, the five-pointed star drawn in an unbroken line, is the subject of the present study.

''the visitor to "het catharina-gasthuis" municipal museum [formerly a hospital and called "cathrijne-gasthuys"] in the dutch city of gouda will come upon the chamber of the surgeons guild. on entering this chamber, he or she will be struck by the multiplicity of pentagrams--five-pointed stars. if we ask ourselves why the pentagram should be present in the gouda surgeons' guildhall and what this sign signifies, the answer is not far to seek. ...

''a curious passage by the greek author lucian: "pro lapsus inter salutandum" will enlighten any reader who wonders how the pentagram could eventually also come to serve as a medical symbol in the west, notably in a little old dutch town like gouda. ... it is safe to assume however, that, for astrological reasons, the five pointed star [possibly the precursor of the geometrical pentagram] possessed some apotropaic value very much earlier in babylon--that same babylon where pythagoras received his scientific schooling. this babylonian five-pointed star represented a magic charm against evil influence. ...

''paracelsus pointed out that, being a sign of the microcosm, the pentagram played a very important part in the practice of magic. ... i referred earlier to the association of the pentagram with ancient astrology and to the habit of placing the sign of the five planets between the points of the pentalpha. ... on what was called a "blood letting mannikin" derived in its turn from the zodiacal mannikin, the twelve parts of the body were connected with the twelve signs of the zodiac controlling these parts of the body. ...

''it being assumed that a planet could strengthen or weaken the sphere of influence of a certain constellation, it was necessary to know the exact position of the planets with respect to the zodiac before undertaking a venesection; ... by means of the signs of the zodiac, the mannikin indicates the most propitious part of the body for blood letting at any moment. ...

''since the 16th century however the pentagram has fallen into complete oblivion as a medical symbol. but it still lives on as an apotropaic talisman, though in most cases completely, or almost completely deprived of content.''

jan schouten, the pentagram as a medical symbol: an iconological study.