Hippocrates / John Freind - Hippocratis de morbis popularibus - 1717

Hippocrates / John Freind – Hippocratis de Morbis Popularibus, Libri I & III – London, 1717

Hippocrates.
Hippocratis de Morbis Popularibus Liber Primus, & Tertius. His accommodavit Novem de Febribus Commentarios Johannes Freind, M.D.

London (Londini), William Innys (Gul. Innys), 1717.

First edition, quarto.

An important early 18th-century medical edition combining Books I and III of Hippocrates' Epidemics with the extensive commentaries on fevers by the English physician John Freind (1675–1728), physician to Queen Caroline, Fellow of the Royal Society and one of the pioneers of the history of medicine in England.

The Hippocratic text is beautifully printed in Greek with Latin translation. It is followed by Freind's nine commentaries on fevers, with a separate divisional title and separate pagination.

Collation as present:

Preliminary matter: to p. XXIX, followed by divisional title.
Hippocrates: pp. 1–119, ending with Praeli Errata.
Separate divisional title: Johannis Freind, M.D. De Febribus Commentarii Novem.
Freind's Commentaries: ending at p. 174, followed by Finis and Errata.

The gathering signatures have been checked and run consecutively through the volume. The pagination contains some unusual transitions characteristic of this printing.

An attractive example of early Enlightenment medicine, in which Freind places the clinical observations of Hippocrates in the context of contemporary theories and treatment of fevers.

Condition

Contemporary full calf binding with blind-tooled decoration to both boards. The binding is considerably worn, particularly the spine, with loss of leather and damage as shown in the photographs. Boards remain attached.

Internally considerably better preserved: generally clean, strong paper, good margins and crisp printing. Greek and Latin typography remains particularly attractive.

Please study the photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the condition description.

A scarce early edition of Hippocrates and an important work in the history of 18th-century medicine.