Amatus Lusitanus (pseudonym of João Rodrigues de Castello Branco). Curationum Medicinalium, Centuria Prima ["First Century": collection of medical case histories].

(MEDICINE).

Laurentius Torrentinus

Florence

1551

Friedenwald, p. 36.

The Maranno Physician Amatus Lusitanus, is likely the Single Most Renowned Medical Figure of the Renaissance Era. The first edition of Amatus' Curationum Medicinalium, Centuria Prima is exceedingly rare. WorldCat shows but two copies: Biblioth`eque Nationale de France (Paris) and the Berlin State Library. The word "Lusitano" appended to the author’s name, indicates his Portuguese origin. This flaunting of Portuguese identity by Marranos who escaped from Portugal to openly practice Judaism in other lands, prompted one Portuguese Christian writer to observe with chagrin: "Small wonder then that other nations, unfamiliar with the piety of the true Portuguese, should be inclined to think that all Lusitanians are Jews… Consequently, many Portuguese are ashamed to admit their nationality abroad. " Sousa, f. 12v. ; cited in E. Glaser, "Invitation to Intolerance, " HUCA, Vol. XXVIII (1956). p. 380.