Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 237.5

CHRISTOF WIRSUNG (1500?-1571) Praxis medicinae vniuersalis, or, A generall practise of physicke: wherein are conteined all inward and outward parts of the body, with all the accidents and infirmities that are incident vnto them, euen from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote : also by what meanes (vvith the help of God) they may be remedied : very meete and profitable, not only for all phisitions, chirurgions, apothecaries, and midwiues, but for all other estates whatsoeuer : the like whereof as yet in English hath not beene published. Edmund Bollifant 1598 [20], 790, [122] p. 30 cm.

Originally published in Heidelberg in 1568 as “Ein new Artzeny Buch,” this medical guide is organized into sections covering the head, breast, belly, skin and extremities with additional sections covering poisons and herbal remedies. All imaginable ailments are described, along with their prescribed treatments, mostly botanical in nature, but also including bleeding, baths and enemas. Wirsung was a native of Augsburg whose previous works most notably included a German translation of the Spanish tragicomedy “La Celestina.” The title page of this edition affords him the title “Doctour” however, that honorific does not appear on the first German edition of this work. Whatever his medical qualifications may have been, his compilation of cures was extremely popular and influential, being frequently reprinted in the century after its publication.

Cited references: Waller, 10361; NLM, 4755; Wellcome I, 6758

John Martin, M.D. Endowment