VMs: Witchcraft and pharmacology...

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Dana,

At 22:22 27/11/2003 -0700, Dana Scott wrote:
> It seems that witchcraft flourished in the late 15th century:

There seems to be an abundant (if often inadequately cross-referenced) 
literature on the cross-over between 15th century folk magic and 
pharmacology, which I guess is what you are particularly interested in 
(rather than "witchcraft" per se)

I've mentioned Ioan Couliano's "Eros and Magic in the Renaissance" several 
times before (for witchcraft etc, refer particularly to pages 149-153). One 
key source for Couliano is Jordanes de Bergamo's "Quaestio de Strigis" 
(manuscript, circa 1470), quoted in Joseph Hansen "Quellen und 
Untersuchungen zur Geschichte des Hexenwahns" (Bonn, 1901) and in Henry 
Charles Lea "Materials towards a History of Witchcraft" (New York and 
London, 1957).

Couliano also mentions M. Harner "The Role of Hallucinogenic Plants in 
European Witchcraft" in M. Harner (ed.) "Hallucinogens and Shamanism" 
(Oxford University Press, 1973), pp. 125-150.

I've also corresponded briefly with a German group of researchers who study 
around the area of history of phytotherapy and gynaecology: it seems likely 
to me that several sets of literature overlap in this general area.

A good first step to grasping this might be to compile a bibliography 
(perhaps as a Wiki?) classified by general tradition (witchcraft, 
pharmacology, herb-women, folk magic, etc). Circulating that amongst 
different academic groups might act as a magnet for finding more recent 
research.

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling..... 


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