Leonardo’s To Do List (The Real and the Fabricated)

by David Ng

First, the real one:

The “to-do” list, translated, reads: “On the Utilities. Spectacles with case, firestick, fork, bistoury [a surgical knife], charcoal, boards, sheets of paper, chalk, white wax, forceps, pane of glass, fine-tooth bone saw, scalpel, inkhorn, penknife.

“Get hold of a skull. Nutmeg.

“Observe the holes in the substance of the brain, where there are more of less of them.

“Describe the tongue of the woodpecker and jaw of a crocodile.

“Give measurement of the dead using his finger [as a unit].

“Get your books on anatomy bound. Boots, stockings, comb, towel, shirts, shoelaces, penknife, pens, a skin for the chest, gloves, wrapping paper, charcoal.” (Guardian)

And the cartoony one (although I actually find the real one much more amusing):

Real one via the Guardian, and the cartoon, by Wendy MacNaughton at NPR.