Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 483

KENELM DIGBY (1603-1665) A late discourse made in a solemn assembly of nobles and learned men at Montpellier in France, touching the cure of wounds by the powder of sympathy. Printed by J. G. and are to be sold by Octavian Puleyn, jun. 1664 4th ed. [10] 152 [6] pp. 13.8 cm.

This popular piece of quackery is dedicated by the translator, R. White (fl. 1600), to John Digby, Kenelm's son. In effusive phrases White states that "you resemble him, not onely in the outward Symmetry . . . but the Tone of your voice, the Accent of your words, your very Breath and Articulate sounds are the same with his" (p. [4]). Sir Kenelm was a sometime privateer, politician, traveler, linguist, scientist, and wealthy social climber. He received considerable publicity and fame by advocating his "Powder of Sympathy" which is described in the present work. According to Digby, as a young man in Florence he was entrusted with the secret of the healing powder by a Carmelite friar who had learned its preparation and use in the Orient. The powder was nothing more than vitriol (copper sulphate) which Digby claimed possessed the power to heal wounds at a distance. He explained that a dressing or bandage containing the blood of the afflicted person was to be soaked in a solution of the powder and then left to dry in the sunlight. The sun withdrew the healing properties of the vitriol and blood, and together they were transported to the wounded parts which were then rapidly healed. To prove the efficacy of his remedy, a number of incidents of healing were related. The first edition of the book was written in French and published in Paris. Two English editions were issued the same year and the book was later translated into German, Dutch, and Latin.

Cited references: Cushing D163 (2nd ed., 1658); Osler 2457 (1st ed., 1658); Wellcome II, p. 468 (2nd ed.)

Gift of John Martin, M.D.