Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 137

GABRIELE DE ZERBIS (1445-1505) Gerentocomia [sic]. Per Eucharium Silber alias Franck 1489] 268 pp. 20.1 cm.

Native to Verona, Zerbis' family was of aristocratic origins and its members were prominent in civic and business affairs. It is not known where Zerbis studied, although it may have been at Padua where he held a teaching position in philosophy in 1467. He moved to Bologna in 1475 and taught medicine and logic there until 1483. Spending the following eleven years in Rome, he then was persuaded to return to Padua where he occupied the chair of theoretical medicine until his death. He and one of his young sons were murdered in Dalmatia while returning home from Constantinople. Zerbis had gone there to treat the Turkish ruler, who suffered a relapse and died while Zerbis was enroute. Zerbis and the boy were captured, tortured, and sawn in half. The present work is the first printed book devoted solely to the subject of geriatrics and contains many references to and quotations from classical works, for Zerbis was an unusually well educated man and was widely respected by his contemporaries. Following the ideology and social beliefs of his time, he restricted himself only to the problems of old age in men and did not discuss women. The book is devoted to topics such as the nature, causes, and signs of old age; the functions of those who specialize in caring for the aged; the proper physical and medical care for the elderly; and the optimum climate, diet, living accommodations, and hygiene for the aged. Zerbis believed that a person's life span depended upon their horoscope and bodily constitution. He emphasized that life cannot be extended beyond its natural limits so one should aim only at retarding the aging process. The author recommended living in a temperate climate in a dwelling with an eastern exposure and good ventilation. He sets forth rules for exercise, bathing, rest, eating and drinking, sleeping, body evacuations, and maintenance of good mental health. Favored remedies for retarding the onset of old age included the meat of vipers, distillate of human blood, and medicines containing gold and precious stones. The first six leaves of the University of Iowa Libraries' copy are excellently reproduced in facsimile.

Cited references: Goff Z 26; Hain-Copinger 16284; Klebs 1057.1; Waller 150

Gift of John Martin, M.D.