Receipt-Book, French: 18th century

Collection of medical, domestic, and technical receipts in French, by various hands. This volume contains several incomplete 4to. receipt-books of different sizes, written by different hands, some very illiterate. The date 1780 is found on p. 103, and 'Paris 1790' on p. 144. On p. 91 is a Revolutionary song 'Les travaux d'Hercule réalisés par les parisiens' dated 1789: there are other verses on pp. 151, 164. P. 166, of which only the inner half remains, contains pen-drawn circular figures, which possibly illustrate the parts of a clock, but there seems to be no related text. There are many receipts for artificial gems, dyes, varnishes, etc.

1780-1790

1 volume 232 pp. 4to. v.s. Modern boards.

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).