Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 535.5

JOHANN JAKOB WEPFER (1620-1695) Cicutae aquaticae historia et noxae : commentario illustrata. Apud Joh. Rodolphum König ; Imprimebat Joh. Rodolphus Genathius 1679 [16], 336, [6] p., [5] p. of plates : ill., map. 22 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 534

Although, as the title states, this is primarily a work on the poisonous water hemlock, discussing its dangerous effects, its medicinal uses and antidotes to counter the poison, it is perhaps better known as the first description of the tiny glands in the mucosa of the duodenum, now called Brunner’s glands. Brunner was the author’s father-in-law, but it was Wepfer who here first described them. They are described in the summary of an experiment on a dog, on pages 206 and 207. Parts of the book contain letters or extracts of letters between Wepfer and other toxicologists of that era. Four engraved plates illustrate one species of the hemlock family, the roots and lower stalk, the branching stalks, the leaves and the flowers and seeds. A fifth engraving is that of the map of the city of Donaustrand. Wepfer systematically studied poisins, with particular attention to the toxic water hemlocks. He was the first to analyze the pharmacological effects of coniine, an alkaloid of hemlock that was not isolated until much later; and his classic description of hemlock poisoning was often cited as the standard.

Cited references: Morton, 974.1; Waller, 10219; Krivatsy, 12949

Gift of John Martin, M.D.