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Manuscript, 4to (242 × 185 mm), ff. 115, all ruled vertically in red in the form of an account book, of which c. 50 are filled with text (on both sides), the remainder blank, at least 4 leaves excised, probably at an early date, the texts on either side apparently unaffected. Two or three legible hands (though one is untidy), in French, seven 19th-century pharmacists’ prescriptions on slips loosely inserted. Contemporary vellum wallet binding with long tawed leather tie (tie slightly defective). Later ownership stamps (Alain Taillade to first leaf and front pastedown).
An attractive French book of remedies, including preparations for many common ailments: including various fevers (one recipe described as ‘donné par un Jacobin’), dropsy, stones, dysentery, colic, ulcers, cancers and rheumatism. Scattered throughout are paragraphs devoted to the medicinal benefits of certain herbs, such as hyssop, marjoram and thyme and there is an elaborate preparation for an elixir for long life and another for an eau de milice using no less than of 56 botanical ‘simples’. Most of these recipes would presumably have been copied from other manuscript collections, or simply written down from memory, but a couple of the added recipes suggest printed sources too, such as that for taenia (tapeworm) by Dr J. Beck ‘medecin de lempereur publiée par l’ordre de S. Mte...’
£950.00
(equal to approx. US$1504.31* or €1174.87* for 22 May 2012)
* Dollar and Euro prices are given as a guideline only. The actual exchange rate may vary according to your payment option.
keywords:
french
