German Household Remedy Book

'Groß artzney buch vor mancherley kranckheiten' is a 17th century medical recipe book and herbal including recipes for cures for common illnesses including cholera, sanguinis, plegma and melancholy. It also contains various remedies for the plague. The volume also contains recipes for veterinary medicine. The herbal can be found at the middle of the book (pp. 171- 185 or own pagination no.423-452) and includes information on the properties of quinces, sates, lemons, lime, aloe and sage, among the herbs mentioned are items from the New World such as sarsaparilla, copaiba and guaiacum which were common as treatment for syphilis.

The volume is written in several hands and is largely anonymous, but some recipes are attributed to Dr. Engels, Dr. Kett, Frau Gudenaus, Dr Hannes, Dr Hoffemis, Dr von Furuß and Frau Benckers. There is some marginalia written in a later German hand towards the end of the volume.

Early 17th century

1 volume 1 volume: approx. 190 x 150 mm. 322 ff. (original pagination [1]-132, 222-339, 341-534, 536-726, with some unpaginated pages and duplicate numeration). Modern calf binding.

Purchased from Milou Books, Austin, Texas, USA, September 2006.

Online Archives and Manuscripts catalogue.