Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 568

ROBERT BOYLE (1627-1691) Medicinal experiments; or, A collection of choice remedies, for the most part simple, and easily prepared. Printed for Sam. Smith 1692 [12] 11, 88 [2] 17 pp. 13.7 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 564

The present work is a collection of prescriptions for a variety of maladies. In the Preface of the Publisher, Smith explained that the remedies were taken out of a larger collection and were sent to a physician in America. The medicines were considered to be safe to administer and contained ingredients that were inexpensive and easily found in most locales. Although most of the medications would be judged totally ineffective today, the publisher received many requests to make them more widely available. For a burn, Boyle recommended: "mingle Lime-water with Linseed Oyl, by beating them together with a Spoon, and with a Feather dress the Burn several times a day" (pg. 84). The book contains two parts and the second part, which begins on page 47, has its own title page. The publisher has also included a catalogue of Boyle's philosophical and theological works at the end of the book.

Cited references: Cushing B577; Osler 952 (2nd ed., 1693); Waller 1392 (4th ed., 1703); Wellcome II, p. 224

Gift of John Martin, M.D.