← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
Today's lesson focuses on the conjunction "nec" (and not, nor), including its use in medical and pharmaceutical Latin. We'll also see how it forms correlative pairs (nec...nec meaning "neither...nor").
18.1 Medicus the doctor nec neither herbās herbs nec nor remedia remedies habet has
18.2 Aegrōtus the sick man nec neither dormit sleeps nec nor cibum food capit takes
18.3 Hoc this venenum poison nec neither colōrem color nec nor odōrem smell habet has
18.4 Planta the plant nec not in in hortō the garden crēscit grows
18.5 Medicus the doctor nec not multum much temporis time habet has
18.6 Hae these herbae herbs nec neither siccae dry nec nor vetus old sunt are
18.7 Pharmacopōla the pharmacist nec not novās new medicīnās medicines emit buys
18.8 Aegra the sick woman nec neither bibit drinks nec nor edit eats
18.9 In in hōc this hortō garden nec neither rosae roses nec nor lilium lily crēscunt grow
18.10 Febris the fever nec not alta high nec nor perīculōsa dangerous est is
18.11 Rēmedia the remedies nec not statim immediately dolōrem the pain levant relieve
18.12 Vulnus the wound nec neither pūrum clean nec nor sānum healthy est is
18.13 Herbārius the herbalist nec not multās many plantās plants cognōscit knows
18.14 Aegrotī the sick people nec not dē about morbo the disease rogant ask
18.15 Hoc this unguentum ointment nec neither bonum good nec nor efficāx effective est is
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18.1 Nec herbās nec remedia medicus habet. The doctor has neither herbs nor remedies.
18.2 Aegrōtus nec dormit nec cibum capit. The sick man neither sleeps nor takes food.
18.3 Hoc venenum nec colōrem nec odōrem habet. This poison has neither color nor smell.
18.4 In hortō planta nec crēscit. The plant does not grow in the garden.
18.5 Temporis multum medicus nec habet. The doctor does not have much time.
18.6 Nec siccae nec vetērēs sunt hae herbae. These herbs are neither dry nor old.
18.7 Novās medicīnās pharmacopōla nec emit. The pharmacist does not buy new medicines.
18.8 Nec bibit nec edit aegra. The sick woman neither drinks nor eats.
18.9 Nec rosae nec lilium in hōc hortō crēscunt. Neither roses nor a lily grow in this garden.
18.10 Nec alta nec perīculōsa febris est. The fever is neither high nor dangerous.
18.11 Dolōrem rēmedia nec statim levant. The remedies do not immediately relieve the pain.
18.12 Nec pūrum nec sānum vulnus est. The wound is neither clean nor healthy.
18.13 Multās plantās herbārius nec cognōscit. The herbalist does not know many plants.
18.14 Dē morbo aegrotī nec rogant. The sick people do not ask about the disease.
18.15 Hoc unguentum nec bonum nec efficāx est. This ointment is neither good nor effective.
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18.1 Nec herbās nec remedia medicus habet.
18.2 Aegrōtus nec dormit nec cibum capit.
18.3 Hoc venenum nec colōrem nec odōrem habet.
18.4 In hortō planta nec crēscit.
18.5 Temporis multum medicus nec habet.
18.6 Nec siccae nec vetērēs sunt hae herbae.
18.7 Novās medicīnās pharmacopōla nec emit.
18.8 Nec bibit nec edit aegra.
18.9 Nec rosae nec lilium in hōc hortō crēscunt.
18.10 Nec alta nec perīculōsa febris est.
18.11 Dolōrem rēmedia nec statim levant.
18.12 Nec pūrum nec sānum vulnus est.
18.13 Multās plantās herbārius nec cognōscit.
18.14 Dē morbo aegrotī nec rogant.
18.15 Hoc unguentum nec bonum nec efficāx est.
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The conjunction "nec" (also written as "neque") has two main uses: -
As a negative connector meaning "and not": -
Joins clauses or phrases with negative meaning -
Can appear once in a sentence -
Often appears at the beginning of its clause -
As a correlative pair "nec...nec" meaning "neither...nor": -
Always appears twice -
Each "nec" introduces one of the paired elements -
Both elements must be in the same grammatical case
Key points for English speakers: -
Unlike English, Latin uses "nec" rather than "and not" -
The word order is flexible but "nec" typically precedes what it negates -
In medical Latin, "nec" is often used in descriptions of symptoms and conditions
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In Roman medical texts, precise description of symptoms and conditions was essential. The use of "nec" allowed physicians to record both what was present and what was notably absent in their observations. This practice continues in modern medical Latin, where clear documentation of negative findings is as important as positive ones.
Medical writers like Celsus and Pliny the Elder frequently used "nec" in their descriptions of diseases, treatments, and medicinal plants. This helped them create detailed and precise medical records that formed the foundation of Western medicine.
For English speakers learning medical Latin, understanding "nec" is crucial because: -
It appears frequently in pharmaceutical texts -
It's used in botanical descriptions -
It helps in reading historical medical documents -
It's part of modern medical terminology
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Celsus' "De Medicina" (Book II.8):
Ergo therefore sī if febris fever nec neither capitis of the head dolōres pains nec nor praecordiōrum of the chest nec nor tussim cough nec nor sitim thirst nec nor bilēm bile movet causes poterit it will be possible aliō on another die day cibum food dare to give.
"Therefore, if the fever causes neither pains of the head nor of the chest, nor cough, nor thirst, nor bile, it will be possible to give food on another day."
This passage demonstrates the medical use of multiple "nec" constructions to list absent symptoms. Celsus uses this structure to establish criteria for when a physician may safely feed a feverish patient.
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Multiple "nec" phrases coordinate a list of direct objects -
All objects are in accusative case -
The main verb "movet" governs all the negated elements -
Follows standard medical observation format
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18.16 Hoc this medicāmentum medication nec neither pueris for children nec nor senibus for the elderly convenit is suitable
18.17 Nec neither vetus old nec nor novum new vīnum wine in in hāc this compositiōne mixture adhibendum should be used est is
18.18 Herba the herb nec neither recēns fresh nec nor nimis too sicca dry esse to be debet ought
18.19 Hoc this collyrium eye-salve nec neither rubōrem redness nec nor dolōrem pain oculōrum of the eyes levat relieves
18.20 Balsamum the balm nec neither calōrem heat nec nor frīgus cold tolerāre to tolerate potest is able
18.21 Pilulae the pills nec neither ante before nec nor post after cibum food sūmendae to be taken sunt are
18.22 Aegrotus the patient nec not stātim immediately medicāmentum the medicine sūmere to take dēbet ought
18.23 Hoc this unguentum ointment nec neither aquam water nec nor oleum oil recipit receives
18.24 Pulvis the powder nec neither dulcis sweet nec nor amārus bitter esse to be dēbet ought
18.25 Medicus the doctor nec neither multum much nec nor parum little sanguinis of blood dētrahit draws
18.26 Emplastrum the plaster nec neither nimis too molle soft nec nor nimis too dūrum hard parāndum to be prepared est is
18.27 Succus the juice herbae of the herb nec not diū long servārī to be kept potest is able
18.28 Nec neither mel honey nec nor acetum vinegar huic to this decoctō decoction addendum to be added est is
18.29 Cataplasma the poultice nec neither nimis too calidum hot nec nor nimis too frīgidum cold imponendum to be applied est is
18.30 Medicāmentum the medicine nec neither sub under sōle sun nec nor in in locō place umidō damp servāre to keep licet it is permitted
18.16 Hoc medicāmentum nec puerīs nec senibus convenit. This medication is suitable neither for children nor for the elderly.
18.17 Nec vetus nec novum vīnum in hāc compositiōne adhibendum est. Neither old nor new wine should be used in this mixture.
18.18 Herba nec recēns nec nimis sicca esse debet. The herb ought to be neither fresh nor too dry.
18.19 Collyrium hoc nec rubōrem nec dolōrem oculōrum levat. This eye-salve relieves neither the redness nor the pain of the eyes.
18.20 Balsamum nec calōrem nec frīgus tolerāre potest. The balm can tolerate neither heat nor cold.
18.21 Pilulae nec ante nec post cibum sūmendae sunt. The pills should be taken neither before nor after food.
18.22 Stātim medicāmentum aegrotus nec sūmere dēbet. The patient should not take the medicine immediately.
18.23 Unguentum hoc nec aquam nec oleum recipit. This ointment accepts neither water nor oil.
18.24 Pulvis nec dulcis nec amārus esse dēbet. The powder ought to be neither sweet nor bitter.
18.25 Medicus nec multum nec parum sanguinis dētrahit. The doctor draws neither too much nor too little blood.
18.26 Emplastrum nec nimis molle nec nimis dūrum parāndum est. The plaster should be prepared neither too soft nor too hard.
18.27 Succus herbae diū servārī nec potest. The juice of the herb cannot be kept long.
18.28 Nec mel nec acetum huic decoctō addendum est. Neither honey nor vinegar should be added to this decoction.
18.29 Cataplasma nec nimis calidum nec nimis frīgidum imponendum est. The poultice should be applied neither too hot nor too cold.
18.30 Medicāmentum nec sub sōle nec in locō umidō servāre licet. It is not permitted to keep the medicine either under the sun or in a damp place.
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18.16 Hoc medicāmentum nec puerīs nec senibus convenit.
18.17 Nec vetus nec novum vīnum in hāc compositiōne adhibendum est.
18.18 Herba nec recēns nec nimis sicca esse debet.
18.19 Collyrium hoc nec rubōrem nec dolōrem oculōrum levat.
18.20 Balsamum nec calōrem nec frīgus tolerāre potest.
18.21 Pilulae nec ante nec post cibum sūmendae sunt.
18.22 Stātim medicāmentum aegrotus nec sūmere dēbet.
18.23 Unguentum hoc nec aquam nec oleum recipit.
18.24 Pulvis nec dulcis nec amārus esse dēbet.
18.25 Medicus nec multum nec parum sanguinis dētrahit.
18.26 Emplastrum nec nimis molle nec nimis dūrum parāndum est.
18.27 Succus herbae diū servārī nec potest.
18.28 Nec mel nec acetum huic decoctō addendum est.
18.29 Cataplasma nec nimis calidum nec nimis frīgidum imponendum est.
18.30 Medicāmentum nec sub sōle nec in locō umidō servāre licet.
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In medical prescriptions, "nec" serves several important grammatical functions: -
With Gerundives (expressing necessity): -
nec...sūmendae sunt ("ought not to be taken") -
nec...adhibendum est ("ought not to be applied") -
These constructions are common in medical instructions -
With Modal Verbs: -
nec...potest ("is not able") -
nec...licet ("it is not permitted") -
nec...debet ("ought not") -
Used to express medical prohibitions and limitations -
Special Medical Uses: -
Paired qualities: nec nimis calidum nec nimis frīgidum ("neither too hot nor too cold") -
Timing instructions: nec ante nec post ("neither before nor after") -
Storage conditions: nec sub sōle nec in locō umidō ("neither under the sun nor in a damp place") -
Case Usage with Medical Terms: -
Dative of reference: nec puerīs nec senibus ("neither for children nor for the elderly") -
Genitive of specification: nec multum nec parum sanguinis ("neither much nor little of blood") -
Accusative with prepositions: nec sub sōlem ("not under the sun") -
Word Order in Prescriptions: -
"Nec" typically precedes the term it negates -
In correlative pairs, both terms usually appear in parallel construction -
The main verb often appears at the end, following standard Latin medical style -
Common Medical Formulas: -
Properties of medicines: nec dulcis nec amārus ("neither sweet nor bitter") -
Physical states: nec recēns nec sicca ("neither fresh nor dry") -
Reactions: nec calōrem nec frīgus tolerāre ("tolerate neither heat nor cold")
These constructions are essential for understanding and writing medical Latin prescriptions accurately.
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