Maier, Joannes

Medicin. Chymie und Material Kammer. The name of the compiler was obtained from a rubbing of the inscription on the spine, the original title-label is wanting. This appears to read 'Joannes Maier /MANIA/Manuscripta': 'Mania' is the subject of the first receipt. The title as given above is taken from the heading to the 'Clavis Chimicorum', which follows the entry 'Von grossen Lentibus'. The MS. consists of 1438 medical receipts, followed by an index. After this is the short work on burning glasses (4 ll.), the 'Clavis' with a key to the five cyphers used in the text (7 ll.), receipts for distilled waters (4 ll.), and a last collection of 'secrets', technical receipts for inks, varnishes, etc. (90 pp.), with its own index (5 ll.). Receipts Nos. 477-502 are entirely magical. The date 1730 is found at the end of Receipt No. 64 in the last series.

This item was exhibited in the exhibition 'Medicine Man' at Wellcome Collection until end June 2015

c. 1730

1 volume 637 pp. + 40 ll. + 4 ll. + 7 ll. + 4 ll. (last bl.). + 90 pp + 5 ll. 4to. 23 × 18 cm. Original stamped pigskin binding over wooden boards, with two clasps. Written in red, yellow, green and black inks, within coloured rules: large ornamental capitals in gold and colours.

Purchased 1908.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

Medical receipt for mania, L0049334-5