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Viewing Disability in Medieval Spanish Texts by Connie L. Scarborough.Amsterdam University Press,Series: Premodern Health, Disease, and DisabilityDescription by the editor :"This book is one of the first to examine medieval Spanish canonical works for their portrayals of disability in relationship to theological teachings, legal precepts, and medical knowledge. Connie L. Scarborough shows that physical impairments were seen differently through each lens. Theology at times taught that the disabled were "marked by God," their sins rendered on their bodies; at other times, they were viewed as important objects of Christian charity. The disabled often suffered legal restrictions, allowing them to be viewed with other distinctive groups, such as the ill or the poor. And from a medical point of view, a miraculous cure could be seen as evidence of divine intervention. This book explores all these perspectives through medieval Spain's miracle narratives, hagiographies, didactic tales, and epic poetry. "&#160;Table of ContentsAcknowledgements 9Introduction: Disability Theory and Pre-Modern ConsiderationsDisability Theories: Definitions and LimitationsAdapting Disability Studies for the Pre-Modern EraThe Role of the Church and Christian BeliefsDisability Studies and Literary TextsGoals and Organization1 Lameness – Los Contrechos Definitions and TheoriesLegal StatusHistorical and Pseudo-Scientific AccountsWork and Occupational HazardsMobility DevicesDivine PunishmentRidicule and ExampleThe Monstrous2 Blindness – Los Ciegos Medieval Theories of SightCauses for Loss of SightReligious BeliefsBegging and CharityBlinding as Judicial PunishmentBlinding as Divine PunishmentSelf-BlindingComic Potential3 Deafness and Inability to Speak – Los Sordomudos Deaf vs. deafLegal statusCures (?)Popular Refrains and Wisdom LiteratureSpiritual Autobiography/Pathography/ConsolationLoss of Speech4 Leprosy – Los Gafos Medical KnowledgeSegregation (?)The Leper as MetaphorLeprosy as Divine PunishmentLeper as Holy MessengerLeper as Figure in Religious HistoryLeprosy and ‘Tests of Friendship’5 Cured by the Grace of God – Los Milagros The Medieval Concept of MiracleMiracle AccountsMissing LimbsLameness and ParalysisMultiple ImpairmentsBlindnessDeafness and Inability to SpeakLeprosyInterdependence of Disability and Divine Cure6 Conclusions Works CitedIndex&#160;More infos on the editor website.