NO. 2 THE BADIANUS MANUSCRIPT EM MART 9 



information into two volumes. To complete this work he w^as sent 

 to the Pueblo of Tepeopulco, of the district of Texcoco, where with 

 the assistance of lo or 12 Indians who were former students, the 

 w^ork was completed in 1569." 



A review of the known dates of his life shows that he was teacher 

 of Latin at the College of Santa Cruz between 1536 and 1540. Be- 

 tween 1540 and 1545 he was visiting commissioner to various Fran- 

 ciscan convents. In 1545 he returned to the Tlaltelolco and was there 

 until 1546, the year of the great plague. While nursing his beloved 

 Indians he acquired the infection and was himself removed to the 

 mother convent in Mexico City proper. The next year he returned 

 to Tlaltelolco. Between the years 1547 and 1552 his residence is not 

 known, but since in 1552. as a member of the governing board of the 

 Order, we find his signature affixed to a letter to the Emperor, this 

 would seem to indicate that he was in all probability in or near Mexico 

 City at the time. It is possible that he was in residence at the Convent 

 of Xochimilco. since we know that he was superior in that convent 

 about this time. 



As might be expected, the medical writings of Sahagun and text 

 of the Badianus manuscript are closely related in subject matter as 

 well as in the etymology of the Aztec words. However, the former is 

 written in the manner of a notebook while the latter is a completely 

 organized treatise. Also the Badianus manuscript deals with many 

 more plants than the Sahagun. The illustrations are superior to the 

 Sahagun manuscript both in number and in anatomical detail. 



The use of Aztec symbols to assist in the identification of plants 

 is to be found in both manuscripts. In the Badianus manuscript the 

 Aztec water symbol is sometimes drawn under the roots of plants 

 to indicate that it grows by flowing water. Where the water is not 

 flowing the background around the roots of aquatic plants is painted 

 blue. The use of the stone symbol, which is also found in the Sahagun 

 m.anuscript, becomes a highly developed art in the Badianus manu- 

 script, where it occurs with various modifications of form and color. 

 In all cases it is found beneath the roots of plants. 



In attempting to identify the various infirmities under the Latin 

 title it is necessary to keep in mind that the manuscript is a descrip- 

 tion of diseases and ailments of natives of Mexico ; and in addition that 

 it deals with the materia medica of a people who lived in a tropical 

 country at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet. Although it was 

 written within 31 years of the Conquest, the subject matter reaches 



" Bandelier, F. R., Ancient Mexico. Fisk University Press, 1932. 



