Traité des Animaux [Manuscript Medicinal/Drug Encyclopedia]

Huzard, Jean-Baptiste

1800.

Hardcover (Vellum). Near Fine Condition. Item #CAT000925

Contemporary full overlapping parchment with red morocco lettering piece. A sprawling treatise on the pharmacological and medical uses of various animals, foods, metals, minerals and stones, and drugs compiled by Huzard, the Inspector General of Veterinary Schools and member of the Academy of Medicine and Academy of Science. Divided into nine books and pages numbered 1-1009. Large folio, pages ca. 14.5" x 9.25". Undated, ca. 1800 (Huzard lived from 1755-1838)

Apparently compiled from a number of sources, likelyan unnamed "Dictionnaire" and Lemery's Traité universel des drogues simples (frequently cited as "Traité des Drogues" with page numbers. Entries are listed alphabetically by Latin name with an index at the each opf the nine sections (Animals; Birds; Fish; Insects; Reptiles; Metals; Minerals; Gems and Rocks; Drugs)

A fascinating mixture of medicine, folklore, chemistry, and medieval and classical knowledge. Galen, Avicenna, and Agricola are all cited, the cure for the tarantula bite is given (dancing, preferably with violins), crow fat is a great emollient and their excrement in wine cures dysentry; eating nightingales cures epilepsy; anchovies are better eating than sardines, but smaller; millipedes make a poultice that will cure neck abscesses; scorpion ground into a powder will aid in resisting malignant humours; crocoodile fat will strengthen the nerves; chocolate is often served with pepper and ginger but the French don't like it like that - it can be eaten in tablets or as a hot beverage (with detailed instructions of make hot chocolate). Mastic, mummy powder, mustard, vermiecelli and wine are all discussed in the drug section for their salubrious properties among many, many other items. An impressive achievement, clearly intended to be an exhaustive encyclopedia of the medical properties of substances. It captures a moment when classical ideas of medicine and alchemy were being transformed into modern chemistry.

Executed in black ink, likely iron gall ink as it has burned the paper a bit when applied especially heavily (here and there in the running title). Slight dampstaining to top edge towards end - generally fine. Size: Folio. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 2-3 kilos. Category: Medicine & Health; Cooking, Wine & Dining. Inventory No: CAT000925.

Price: $6,000.00