This is one image from a manuscript on vellum, produced in southern Germany around 1410, that contains pen and ink drawings with explanatory texts in German and Latin. It is an encyclopedic work that covers topics such as astrology, medicine, philosophy, and morality.
“The location of bloodletting was thought to be relevant to the ailment. In one reference volume dating to about 1410 — a sort of early almanac — the authors published a rough drawing of a “vein man,” detailing where and how to bleed a patient. Each vein and location on the body was provided with instructions as to how the bleeding should be carried out, depending on the medical problem”.
~ From: Medieval Pandemic Cures That Were…Medieval
Some other drawings in this manuscript are also available at the Library of Congress and include:
The earth and seven planets
Zodiac-man, a naked man shown with the 12 signs of the zodiac
Bloodletting charts of the human body
Tower of Wisdom (text in German)
Microcosmus and Macrocosmus, two figures representing the human and the cosmic dimensions
Tree of Virtue and Tree of Babylon (or vice), two allegorical representations of moral values
Philosophy surrounded by the Seven Arts
Stories showing the evil power of women
Wheel of Fortune
Title: [Encyclopedic manuscript containing allegorical and medical drawings].
Summary: An early parent to the modern almanac, these "monthly rules" are often found in astrologically focused medical manuscripts. In the Rosenwald copy, the twelve months of the year, titled in red ink for easy locating, border the central figure affectionally known to medievalists as "Vein Man." Instructions pertaining to each vein surround the body in a system of circles that connect to the pertinent point of the body via conspicuous red lines.
Contributor Names:Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection (Library of Congress)
Created / Published: [South Germany, ca. 1410]
Library of Congress: 50041709