rare medical books

pictures of rare books and information about open house from post

Apr 13 2022

John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin Library Open House 2022 Book List

Posted on April 13, 2022April 13, 2022 by Sarah Andrews

Visit the John Martin Rare Book Room at Hardin Library for the annual open house,
Wednesday, April 20, from 4pm-7pm.
All are welcome/family friendly! Masks encouraged. This is an in-person event.

The following books will be on display:

BLEULAND, JAN (1756-1838). Otium academicum. Trajecti ad Rhenum: Ex Officina Joh. Altheer, academiae typographi, 1828.
SABUCO de NANTES y BARRERA, OLIVA (1562-1646) Nueva filosofia de la naturaleza del hombre, no conocida, ni alcanzada de los grandes filosofos antiguos, la qual mejora la vida y salud humana, con las adicciones de la segunda impression. Madrid: Printed by Domingo Fernandez for Francisco Lopez Fernandez, 1728.
de PORRAS, MANUEL. Anatomia Galenico-moderna / Compuesta Por El Doctor Don Manuel De Porras, Cirujano De Su Magestad, Y De Los Reales Hospitales De La Corte, Y Examinador Del Real Protomedicato. En Madrid : En la Imprenta de Musica, por Bernardo Peralta, 1716.
SCHWANN, THEODOR (1810-1882). Mikroskopische Untersuchungen über die Uebereinstimmung in der Struktur und dem Wachsthum der Thiere und Pflanzen. [Microscopical researches into the accordance in the structure and growth of animals and plants]. Berlin : Verlag der Sander’schen Buchhandlung G.E. Reimer, 1839.
Medicinal Plants Scroll from Japan’s Mid-Edo Period. Japan, 1727.
PARACELSUS (ca. 1493-1541). Des hochgelerten vn[d] hocherfarnen Herren Theophrasti Paracelsi von Hohenheim, beider Artzney Doctoris, etliche Tractaten vor in Truck nie ausskommen. [From the highly educated and high ranking Theophrastus Paracelsus of Hohenheim, doctor of both medicines, a number of never before seen tracts] Printed by Arnold Birckmann’s print shop (the “Heirs of Arnold Birckmann”) in Cologne in 1564.
Aristotle (pseudo). Aristotle’s Compleat Master-piece : In Three Parts : Displaying the Secrets of Nature in the Generation of Man … To Which Is Added, A Treasure of Health ; Or, The Family Physician : Being Choice and Approved Remedies for All the Several Distempers Incident to Humane Bodies. The Fifteenth ed. London: Printed and Sold by the Booksellers, 1723. **note**this book is currently being conserved and may not be available for the open house but is in our permanent collection
NIGHTINGALE, FLORENCE (1820-1910). Notes on nursing: what it is, and what it is not. Printed by Harrison, 1860.
NICANDER, OF COLOPHON (flourished 138-130 BCE) Theriaka; Tou autou Alexipharmaka [Greek title transliterated]. Theriaca; Eiusdem Alexipharmaca. Printed by John Soteris in 1530.
TAGLIACOZZI, GASPARE(1545-1599). De curtorum chirurgia per insitionem. Apud Gasparem Bindonum iuniorem, 1597.
BOURGEOIS BOURSIER, LOUISE (1563-1636) Obseruations diuerses sur la sterilité, perte de fruict, fœcondité, accouchements, et maladies des femmes, et enfants nouueaux naiz / amplement traictees et heureusement praticquees par L. Bourgeois, dite Boursier, sage femme de la Roine; œuure vtil et necessaire a toutes personnes. [Diverse Observations on Sterility, Miscarriage, Fertility, Childbirth, and Diseases of Women and Newborn Children. Discussed in Detail and Successfully Practiced by L. Bourgeois, called Boursier, Midwife to the Queen. A Work Useful and Necessary for All]. Printed by Chez A. Saugrain. 1609.
LONICER, ADAM (1528-1586) Kreuterbuch, kunstliche Conterfeytunge der Bäume, Stauden, Hecken, Kreuter, Getreyde, Gewürtze. Bey Christian Egenolffs seligen Erben, 1587.
MOTONORI, TAKI (1732-1801) Kokei saikyuho [Emergency remedies for the benefit of the people], 1789.
WILLIAM COWPER (1666-1709) The anatomy of humane bodies : with figures drawn after the life by some of the best masters in Europe, and curiously engraven in one hundred and fourteen copper plates, illustrated with large explications, containing many new anatomical discoveries, and chirurgical observations : to which is added an introduction explaining the animal oeconomy, with a copious index. Oxford: Printed at the Theater, for Sam. Smith and Benj. Walford…, 1698.
SCHEDEL, HARTMANN (1440-1514). [Nuremberg Chronicle] Liber chronicarum. 1493.
GALVANI, LUIGI. De viribus electricitatis in motu musculari commentarius cum Joannis Aldini dissertatione et notis. Accesserunt epistolae ad animalis electricitatis theoriam pertinentes. Modena: apud Societatem Typographicam, 1792.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Damien Ihrig in advance at 319-335-9154 or damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu.

Mar 09 2022

John Browne | Myographia Nova | Dissection | Book of the Month from the John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin Library

Posted on March 9, 2022 by dihrig

By Damien Ihrig, Curator, John Martin Rare Book Room

BROWNE, JOHN (1642-1700) Myographia nova, or, A description of all the muscles in humane body : as they arise in dissection : distributed into six lectures ; at the entrance into every of which, are demonstrated the muscles properly belonging to each lecture now in general use at the theatre in Chyurgeons-Hall, London, and illustrated with one and forty copper plates, accurately engraved after the life, with their names on the muscles, as much as can be expressed by figures, as also, with their originations, insertions, uses, and divers new observations of the authors, and other modern anatomists. Together, with an accurate and concise discourse of the heart, and its use, as also of the circulation of the blood, and the parts of which the sanguinary mass is made and framed, written by the late Dr. Lower. Printed by Thomas Milbourn for the author in 1697. 53 cm tall.

John Browne (1642-1700) was a 17th-century English surgeon and anatomist. He was royal surgeon to Charles II, James II, and William III. Under Charles II, Browne first came to observe the “King’s Evil,” or scrofula (cervical lymphadenitis), a disease related to tuberculosis that inflames and swells lymph nodes in the neck. Some thought that the touch of royalty could heal the disease, and Charles II performed many of these ceremonies. Browne vividly described the disease and ceremonies in his Adenochoiradelogia, printed in 1684.

With a recommendation from the King, Browne was appointed a surgeon at St. Thomas’s Hospital in 1683, where he trained. The Governors who oversaw the hospital, led by the Whig politician Sir Robert Clayton, disliked the freewheeling behavior of its surgical staff. The surgeons at St. Thomas felt unburdened by hospital policy because of their support by the King. However, Clayton and the Governors saw it differently and in 1691 dismissed the entire surgical staff, including Browne.

However, Browne was most well known as a serial plagiarizer and shrewd businessman. Most famously, Browne borrowed directly from the works of Giulio Casseri and William Molins for his 1675 and 1681 editions of, A compleat treatise of the muscles, as they appear in humane body, and arise in dissection. Fellow surgeon and author James Yonge heavily criticized Browne for his literary poaching.

In response, in 1697, Browne put together this book, a work that exemplified his approach to writing and selling books: he made a few tweaks to A compleat treatise… and released it under a new title.

Browne tweaked a few things in Mygraphia nova in an attempt to distance himself from accusations of plagiarizing the works of Giulio Casseri and William Molins, most notably in the illustrations. Many of Casseri’s illustrations are somewhat whimsical, with lounging poses or those with movement, with the subject of the dissection often helpfully holding back layers of skin or muscle on their own bodies.

The illustrations shown here demonstrate such a pose and the kinds of small changes Browne made from A compleat treatise… to Mygraphia nova. Browne’s defenders wished to credit him with the innovation of directly labeling tissues, rather than with a letter or number referenced in the text. This too, however, was a technique lifted from others, including Casseri and Molins.

Interestingly, he added a very short section on the heart as a muscle in the 1697 edition but directed the reader to an appendix that contained the well-known work of Richard Lower. He gave Lower full credit in the title, perhaps artfully exploiting Lower’s name recognition. Browne’s works were relatively popular and printed in several editions, including after his death.

The binding consists of contemporary leather with a deep brown color and a blind tooled (no color or gilt added) design on the front and back boards. It has raised spine bands with “Browne on the muscles” stamped in gilt over a red compartment on spine. The leather is quite cracked and the front and back hinges are loose, but it has been treated by our master conservation team and is stable for use.

Other than some browning at the front and back, more than likely due to exposure to the elements and the glue on the boards, the paper is in great condition. There are a few editorial marginalia as well.

In addition to Mygraphia nova and A compleat treatise…, we also have a facsimile of the 1697 Myografia nova and Browne’s collection of works describing glands, scrofula, and the King’s Evil touching ceremonies.

Contact curator Damien Ihrig or any others from this or other treasures: damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154 to arrange a visit in person or over Zoom.

Our copy of Mygraphia nova was generously donated by Helen Hislop, an influential physical therapist who trained and practiced at the University of Iowa.

woodcut of 15th century Italian surgical tools

Dec 30 2021

December 2021 Book of the Month from the John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin | Early Italian Facial Plastic Surgery

Posted on December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 by Sarah Andrews

TAGLIACOZZI, GASPARE(1545-1599). De curtorum chirurgia per insitionem. Apud Gasparem Bindonum, juniorem, 1597. 32 cm tall.

woodcut from Tagliacozzi book Tagliacozzi studied under Girolamo Cardano at the University of Bologna. After graduating, he became a professor of surgery and anatomy at Bologna. This work, “Concerning the surgery of the mutilated by grafting,” is a classic in the history of plastic surgery and is especially noteworthy for its description of rhinoplasty.

Some form of rhinoplasty had been practiced in ancient India and, in the thirteenth century, by a family of itinerant Sicilian surgeons (the Brancas) who kept the operation a family secret. This became known as the “Italian Method.” This method was included in works by Vesalius, but he described it incorrectly. Tagliacozzi learned of it, modified it, and published De curtorum chirurgia per insitionem, describing his successes and failures of his own method in detail.

The volume is divided into two parts: the first, “Theory of the art of plastic surgery,” is about the structure, function, and physiology of the nose; and the second part, “Practice of the art,” describes and illustrates the instruments and operative procedures for restoration of the nose, lip, and ear. Tagliacozzi also fully discussed the complications, such as hemorrhage and gangrene, that often occurred during these operations.

It has 22 full-page woodcut illustrations showing Tagliacozzi’s method and surgical instruments. They are well-executed and illustrate many of the techniques described in the text. The immediate popularity of the work caused it to be pirated by another Venetian printer, Roberto Meietti, who issued it under the same date. This only touches on the interesting life and work of Tagliacozzi. Read more about him here.

The book is in great condition. One leaf is stained and a few others have browned a bit over time, but it is otherwise in excellent shape. The binding consists of a modern vellum pasted over paper boards. And the full-page illustrations are crisp and jump off the page with their detail and fun flourishes. This book was purchased by Dr. John Martin in 1977 and donated to the collection.

We also have an English translation of De curtorum chirurgia per insitionem by way of the 17th-century Scottish anatomist, Alexander Read.

If you are interested in seeing this or other items in the collection, please contact Damien Ihrig at damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154 to arrange a visit in person or over Zoom.

Dec 06 2021

November 2021 Notes from the John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin Library | Japanese Scroll from Mid-Edo Period

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Sarah Andrews

Full newsletter including more information about Japanese scrolls and additional images.

UNKNOWN. Medicinal plants scroll from Japan’s mid-Edo period. Estimated date of creation is between 1727 and 1800. 29 x 800 cm.
English translation available.

The Medicinal plants scroll is, as its name suggests, a catalog of native Japanese plants, describing their habitats, flowers, fruits, and medicinal uses. Each brief description is accompanied by a handpainted illustration of the plant, usually in bloom.

Thanks to the generosity and hard work of Tsuyoshi Harada, our Japanese Studies Librarian, we have a detailed English translation of the scroll.

Due to Harada’s efforts, we have identified each plant, including Cyrtosia septentrionalis, also called Yamashakujo or Tuchiakebi, and Panax japonicus, or Japanese Ginseng. Unlike traditional ginseng, this guide recommends avoiding the very bitter root of P. japonicus and instead using the root hairs.

image of plant, hand painted with Japanese writing — Panax Japonicus or Japanese Ginsing

The scroll also includes references to other medicinal plant resources available at the time. We are excited to see if we can locate any of these as well.

The scroll is in excellent condition. There is very minor staining here and there, but the original paper is otherwise spotless. It has been rebacked fairly recently with a modern paper containing gold flecks. Replacing the paper support on the back as the scroll ages is a customary practice. Emakimono are not made from a continuous roll of paper, but rather equally sized sheets that have been cleverly glued together, combining long fibers that extend out each side of the sheets. The layers of backing paper then add support and durability.

If you are interested in seeing this or other items mentioned in this or earlier newsletters, please contact Curator Damien Ihrig at damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154 to arrange a visit in person or over Zoom.

This purchase was made possible by the generosity and foresight of Dr. John Martin to support the collection with an acquisitions endowment.

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Tag: rare medical books

John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin Library Open House 2022 Book List

John Browne | Myographia Nova | Dissection | Book of the Month from the John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin Library

December 2021 Book of the Month from the John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin | Early Italian Facial Plastic Surgery

November 2021 Notes from the John Martin Rare Book Room @Hardin Library | Japanese Scroll from Mid-Edo Period