Reception of uroscopy in Scandinavia

The purpose of this article is to look for possible traces of uroscopy in Scandinavia. The manuscripts and early editions on this subject limit the period of uroscopy in Scandinavia to 1450-1600, perhaps even beginning as late as 1557. In the first hundred years of this period, the most important texts were bought by students in foreign countries and taken home to their libraries, but it is doubtful that they were used. This impression is reinforced when we look at the first print in Danish of a medical text. Book printing began in Denmark in 1482, and this text by Christiern Pedersen is from 1533. It deals with herbs and thus continues a rich tradition for herbal medicine in Denmark, but uroscopy is not mentioned. The next editor of medical texts published 7 books in Danish from 1536 to 1557. The last one (1557) is on uroscopy, and in the preface the author, a practising physician, recommends knowledge of uroscopy as useful for his fellow citizens. His source is Lorenz Fries who originally did not want his edition in German to get into the hands of lay people - only less-learned colleagues. The Danish translator gives the impression that uroscopy is something entirely new in Denmark. In 1596 another medical textbook including uroscopy appeared. This is a translation of Ortolff von Bayrlandt's Arzneibuch by a Danish surgeon. It was intended for surgeons and was only reprinted twice. The medical books from the 17th century do not include traditional uroscopy.