‘Deliver This Horse from Evil’: The Ritual Aspects of Responses to Veterinary Disease in the Late Middle Ages.

The research article examines the ritualistic elements of veterinary medicine, specifically for horses, during the Late Middle Ages. A number of charms, prayers and rituals used for controlling and healing contagious diseases in horses have been analyzed to understand their importance in the veterinary practices of the era.

Objective and Approach

• The researchers aimed to fill in the gap of knowledge regarding the ritualistic aspects of veterinary medicine during the Late Middle Ages. To do this, their approach involved a detailed analysis of various charms, prayers, and other healing rituals used to deal with contagious diseases affecting horses during this period.

Key Findings and Observations

• The study found that the healing rituals and practices towards diseases in horses were characterized by several common features and semantic aspects.
• These rituals shared similarities with the discussions of contagious diseases found in veterinary treatises of the era.
• The researchers identified a distinctive set of healing rituals specific to enzootic diseases, that is, diseases particular to a certain locality or region, showing that these were a common response to such illnesses.

Conclusion and Implications

• Based on the findings, the research argues that magical and religious healing practices were a significant part of horse care during the Late Middle Ages. They were used not just as mere beliefs but as part of the professional medical care provided to horses.
• The paper lastly suggests that veterinary medicine was a key manifestation of ritual healing during these times, highlighting a perspective that has been commonly overlooked in previous research.