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Volker Riepenhausen

Second edition of an interesting compendium of medical 'secrets'. 

The title calls it a work 'of great usefulness and delight, which includes necessary historical, philosophical and medical information to preserve health and treat sundry illnesses'. 

Joseph Du Chesne (or Quercetanus, 1544-1609) trained at Montpellier and Basle, and was a keen follower of Paracelsus. In 1598, he was personal physician to Henri IV. 

'Diaeteticon' i.e., 'on the good health regime' provides, in the first two parts, general advice on how to keep healthy and live long, by eschewing excess related to food, drink, intercourse, passions, exercise, etc. Each chapter is devoted to a specific cause of illness, providing a social context, historical anecdotes, symptoms, effects and suggestions for treatments and diet. 

Part I discusses the illnesses caused by the 'perturbations of the soul', e.g., ambition, avarice ('the root of all evil'), wrath, envy, lust and fear. 

Part II discusses the effects of the weather, diet and sleep on the human body. The chapter on air includes references to the epidemic of 'sudor anglicus' ('sweating sickness', a hitherto unseen illness which spread to the continent from Britain c.1500, scurvy, colic (especially frequent in Alsatia), 'Hungarian fever' (which turns one's tongue black) and scrofula (worst in Spain). The chapter on wine includes indications for a taxonomy of wines by colour, smell, etc. 

Part III provides dozens of simple rules for everyday life, as well as remedies made from herbs or minerals. Most interesting is the section on tooth brushing, with powder extracted from red coral or from roses; 'if they are deformed and black, or have been removed, a solution with salt, alum and a little honey should be used'. Uncommon is the section on food dressings, with important observation on salt and sugar, 'both of great cost and use'. The latter is said to 'hide, behind its whiteness, a great blackness': it causes thirst and turns one's teeth black ('in those who are gluttons and eat it too often'), and for this reason 'it is not advised to anyone, especially to young people'. 

BOOK DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION:

Octavo. Contemporary full vellum binding. The vellum shows general age-toning, darkening, and scattered stains, particularly on the spine and boards, with some wear at the edges and joints. The binding remains intact and firm.

The text block is well-preserved with moderate age-toning, occasional foxing, and light browning consistent with 17th-century paper. Inner margins show some evidence of dampstaining in a few places but without loss of text. Occasional small spots or ink marks. Typography is clear, with decorative initials and attractive red-and-black title page still sharp.

Endpapers and pastedowns show age wear, light soiling, and creasing. The book appears complete with final “Tabula Capitum” (index) present. Some leaves show minor edge wear but overall remain clean and legible. Very good.

RARITY ANALYSIS:

USTC shows nine extant library copies of this work. RBH shows two copies that have sold at auction in the last century.

PROVENANCE:

A stamp on the book indicates prior ownership by J.A. Alfred les Gotes.

Medicine, Natural History - Quantity: 1 - Book

Quercetanus (Joseph du Chesne) - Diæteticon Polyhistoricon - 1607

Classical Art & Impressionism

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