Receipt-Book, Italian: 16th century

Collection of medical receipts, mainly in Italian, but a few in Latin: preceded by some short sermons on Biblical texts. By several hands. The sermons occupy the first 62 leaves, there is further theological matter on ll. 7-75, and ll. 114-124, including the ceremonies for Blessing of Water. On ll. 80v and 81 are special prayers against snake-bite, poison and the plague. On l. 76 two rough pen-drawings of a ligature to be worn to stop bleeding at the nose. On ff. 67, 69v is an Italian poem on Alexander the Great, and on fol. 69 some Latin verses. The date 1545 is found on l. 63 and l. 77. The entries are by several contemporary hands.

1545

1 volume 130 ll. 8vo. 141/2 x 101/2 cm. Modern vellum binding. Some leaves have been bound in wrong order.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Purchased 1936.

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).