Between symbolism and experience: Croatian glagolitic recipes (14th-15th centuries) dealing with ocular diseases.

In this paper Croatian Glagolitic recipes from the 14th and 15th century were elaborated as a part of the oldest such preserved sources in Croatia. Six recipes against ocular diseases were analyzed which were based mostly on empirical knowledge, and mostly herbal ingredients were suggested in preparation. In only one recipe traces of Christian belief were detected. Analysing the content of recipes, various strata of official medicine, empiry and religious symbolism were determined, as well as links with a wider Western European medical and cultural heritage.