New exhibition showcases recipes in the history of medicine

Visit Hardin Library’s new exhibit on the third floor to explore how home remedies developed into pharmacology. Starting with folks in the 16th–19th centuries, whose ailment treatments came from a trusted authority figure and consisted of any number of substances applied in any number of ways, ranging from the helpful to the ineffectual, to the superstitious, and to the deadly. In the West, these might have been applied by a university-trained physician, by a guild-trained apothecary, by a village healer, or at home with remedies passed down through generations.

Long known as Materia Medica, the practice of applying plants, animal products, food, oils, and inorganic substances evolved into the scientific study and application of medicine known as pharmacology. Medieval Arabic and Western physicians referred to uncomplicated medicines or medicinal compounds as simples. Early recipes often incorporated superstitions, astrology, or other aspects of the occult. The phase of the moon, position of the planets, or the condition of the patient—for example, were they sick due to physical reasons or from demonic possession—could all determine the type of medicine, its composition, or its method of application.

As medicine evolved, creating medicines and treating the sick became more systematic and scientific. Parallel to this evolution was the consolidation of power by physicians and the marginalization of other healing practitioners, consisting of many women who were barred from attending universities. Nevertheless, home remedies continued to be passed down from generation to generation in family recipe books. Eventually, physicians would cater to this market by collecting home remedies and sharing them in their own books. Examples of these books are listed below and you can visit Hardin’s new exhibit to see these books and more.

Brunschwig, Hieronymus (ca. 1450-ca.1512). A most excellent and perfecte homish apothecarye or homely physick booke for all the grefes and diseases of the bodye. Printed in Cologne by Arnold Birckman, 1561.
FOLIO R128.6 .B813 1561

Gerard, John (1545-1612). The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Printed in London by Adam Islip, Joice Norton, and Richard Whitakers, 1633.
FOLIO QK41 .G3 1633

Lonicer, Adam (1528-1586). Kreuterbuch, kunstliche Conterfeytunge der Bäume, Stauden, Hecken, Kreuter, Getreyde, Gewürtze. Printed in Frankfurt by the Heirs of Christian Egenolff, 1587.
FOLIO QK41 .L66 1587

Barton, William P. C. (1786-1856). Vegetable materia medica of the United States. 2 volumes. Printed in Philadelphia by M. Carey, 1817-1818.
QK99 .B3 1818

Buc’hoz, Pierre-Joseph (1731-1807). The toilet of flora: or a collection of the most simple and approved methods of preparing baths, essences, pomatums, powders, perfumes, and sweet-scented waters. With receipts for cosmetics of every kind, that can smooth and brighten the skin, give force to beauty, and take off the appearance of old age and decay. For the use of ladies. Printed in London, 1779.
TP983 .B83 1779

Chase, Alvin W. (1817-1885). Dr. Chase’s Recipes, or, Information for Everybody. Printed in Ann Arobor by R.A. Beal, 1880.
TX153 .C49 1880

Fowler, Charles H. (1837-1908) and De Puy, William H. (1821-1901). Home and health and home economics : a cyclopedia of facts and hints for all departments of home life, health, and domestic economy. Printed in Cincinnati by Hitchcock and Walden, 1880.
TX153 .F68 1880