Description
“Dictionnaire Universel des Drogues Simples” (Universal Dictionary of Simple Drugs)
By Nicolas LEMERY
The names, origins, selection, principles, and therapeutic properties of the plants, minerals, and animals known at the time are listed in alphabetical order.
An antique illustrated pharmacopoeia from 1727
This is a Dutch pirated edition!
Published in Rotterdam by Jean Hofhout, 1727
This copy is a valuable testament to the “war of the booksellers” under the Old Monarchy. It was printed clandestinely in the Netherlands to evade the French royal printing privilege.
Under the Old Monarchy, publishing a book in France was an obstacle course:
First, royal censorship: Before printing, every manuscript was scrutinized by a censor who had to ensure that the work contained nothing contrary to religion, the State, or public morals.
Then there were the taxes: Once approved, the publisher had to pay high taxes to the King to obtain the “Royal Privilege,” which granted a temporary sales monopoly (often for 10 years) within the kingdom but also required the deposit of several free copies for the royal libraries—a significant expense.
Thus, by publishing in Rotterdam, Jean Hofhout freed himself from these constraints. He paid no taxes to the French Crown and escaped the scrutiny of the Parisian censors.
These pirated editions will never bear the inscription “Avec Privilège du Roy” (By Royal Privilege), as is consistently found on the title page of works from the Old Monarchy books.
Illustrated with 24 fold-out plates (out of 25: plate II is missing) engraved on copper and wood, depicting medicinal flora and fauna, some of which are fantastical.
Format: In-4 (27.5 x 20 cm), 590 pages—Sturdy and easy to handle.
Half-leather binding with marbled paper on the covers, 5-ribbed spine. The binding is later and dates from the 19th century.
590 pages + 24 plates of botanical and animal engravings.
This work contains the plants, minerals and animals that went into the composition of the remedies used at the time. Some of them are quite surprising with today's eyes.
Here's a selection:
Wearing hippopotamus teeth on some part of the body to cure haemorrhoids, using hippopotamus testicles against snake bites.
For scurvy, it is advisable to use a well-fattened viper to make a drinking broth. It also works against scabies and smallpox.
To combat epilepsy, a human skull should be grated and powdered. The skull should be that of a young man of good character who has died a violent death but has not been buried. Preferably someone who has been tortured to death, like the hanged men left to rot on the gallows...
To counteract poisons, the horn of the sea unicorn, the Narwhal, is always used. It can also be hung around the neck to keep out the bad air.
Ingested seahorse is a good remedy against worms or rabies, but to make hair grow, it is applied to the hair.
A beautiful book that is hard to find in this condition
