Medicinal Experiments:

Early female ownership inscription. An early edition of this compendium of medical remedies by the natural philosopher and founding fellow of The Royal Society, Robert Boyle (1627-1691).

Despite Boyle's rightly celebrated learning, the treatments by and large offer a damning indictment on the state of medicine in the seventeenth century. They include such as Paracelsus' advice to use 'Human Dung... of a good Colour and Consistence' to treat cloudy vision (p.11), and a treatment for dysentery incorporating the 'dry'd Pizzle [i.e. penis] of a Stagg' (p.35).

Medicinal Experiments is also notable for the author's preface which offers a rare insight into Boyle's own health and past. We learn, for instance, that Boyle was the 'thirteenth or fourteenth Child' of his mother, who died from consumption at the age 42/3, and that many blamed Boyle's 'over-much Study' for his poor health, which he instead ascribes to falling from a horse in Ireland.

The first two volumes were originally published in 1688 under the title Receipts sent to a Friend in America, of which no copies are known to survive. The third volume, of spurious authorship, did not appear until 1694. Together the works offer unparalleled insight into the state of medicine in the seventeenth century.

A very good example in contemporary panelled calf, with interesting early female provenance for 'Rebecca Tristam'.

Sixth edition; 12mo (16.5 x 10 cm); early female ownership inscription in pen to title, further inscriptions to rear endpapers, light dampstaining throughout, slightly creased, small worm track to upper margin corner not affecting text; contemporary panelled calf, joints and spine caps repaired, corners bumped, slightly rubbed; [24], 168, [22], 61, [1]pp.

ESTC T106473; Fulton 185.