Arzneibuch

Compendium of popular medicine and surgery, receipts, etc.: in German.

Compiled for the use of a House of the Franciscan Order, probably in Austria, or South Germany.

There are a large number of water-colour illustrations, of which 15 are almost full-page, depicting operations, laboratories, apothecary's shops, medical and surgical instruments, chemical apparatus, etc., including also over 300 smaller pictures showing anatomical subjects, pathological conditions, injuries, etc. In almost all the illustrations, the physicians and surgeons are in the habit of the Franciscan Order: in a few cases the patients are also either friars or nuns, also in the same habit.

Pp. 49-165 are devoted to ophthalmology, and illustrated by about 60 drawings in colour of morbid states of the eye, operations, etc. These include a laminated coloured depiction of the anatomy of the eye.

The text seems to be old-fashioned for its period, and the standard of knowledge more of the Middle Ages than of the third quarter of the 17th century, when the MS. was most probably compiled.

pp. 30-790 + 4 ll. 4to. 201/2 x 15 cm. Modern stamped morocco binding.

Pp. 1-29, 56-59, 76, 77, 251, 252, 435-438, 484-487, 490-499, 652-659, 725, 762, 783-786 are wanting, as well as the end of the index after the middle of letter P.

A large piece has been torn away from p. 417/8.

Written in double column within red rules, headings in red.

The pagination is irregular.