Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

Dr. Conrad Gessner (1516–65) wrote the first modern treatise on pharmacological chemistry
Ovens, distillation devices, and other laboratory tools for creating medicines are depicted in detail by 52 woodcuts
It is considered to be one of the most important documents in the history of chemistry and pharmacology

Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

11-VI-28 Real Biblioteca del Monasterio (San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain)

Description

Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

In 1552, the “Swiss Pliny” Dr. Conrad Gessner (1516–1565) published an influential treatise on the art of distilling under the pseudonym Euonymus Philiatrus: the Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis. It was one of the most important works that contributed to the scientific renewal of the Renaissance through the inheritance of scientific thought collected throughout the Middle Ages, supplementing it with ancient knowledge and promoting the new flourishing of the natural sciences. The 474-page edition of this handbook, published in Lyon in 1557, explains in detail the advantages and possibilities of distillation and the various techniques known at the time - from the extraction of medicinal plant distillates to the distillation of minerals and the production of alcohol. These descriptions are accompanied by 52 woodcuts that illustrate not only the medicinal plants discussed, but above all the many fascinating distillation procedures, oven shapes and laboratory utensils.

Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

The Treasure of the Secret Remedies is the first treatise of pharmacological chemistry and contributed to the scientific revolution of the Renaissance. It is one of the most important documents in the history of chemistry and pharmacology and was written by Dr. Conrad Gessner (1516–65) a Swiss physician, physicist and chemist of great prestige. Printed in the 16th century, it includes 52 woodcuts that allow us to appreciate the images of ovens, distillation devices, and other laboratory tools. It was one of the main books that contributed to the scientific renewal of the Renaissance through the inheritance of scientific thought collected throughout the Middle Ages. Carlos Gómez Canga-Argüelles, President of the Pharmacy Academy of Castilla y León, called the work “one of the most important documents of the history of the chemistry, pharmacy, cosmetics, and liquor of the sixteenth century”. It is a wonderful record of the advances in technology during the Renaissance, when the knowledge of classical antiquity was being rediscovered and built upon by scholars living in the Late Middle Ages.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Thesaurus Euonymi Philiatri De remediis secretis
Type: Printed book on paper
Size / Format: 474 pages / 16.5 × 12.0 cm
Origin: France
Date: 1557
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Renaissance
Genre: Treatises / Secular Books
Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
Language: Latin
Illustrations: 52 woodcuts
Content: Treatise on pharmacological chemistry
Artist / School: Euonymus Philiatrus, resp. Conrad Gessner (author)
Antonium Vincentium (publisher)

Available facsimile editions:

Detail Picture

Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

Distillation of Oil

This miniature illustrates a detailed description of a method for distilling oil from wood, cloves and similar plant material, based on the Italian Renaissance humanist Gerolamo Cardano. Each part of the distillation apparatus explained in the text is labeled chronologically with a capital letter. Not shown is the clay casing of the apparatus, which is intended to prevent air, water or oil from escaping before the end of the process.

Single Page

Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

Houseleek

A woodcut of an elongated, gnarled-looking plant covers almost the entire page. Although the xylography is rather simplistic, the depiction is still recognizable and can be identified as a houseleek with a lush inflorescence according to the multilingual names above it.

The brief text below the botanical illustration states that the plant's water is used in surgery to "cool the hot parts". How exactly the application is to be imagined remains open given the brevity of the caption.

Facsimile Editions

#1 Thesaurus de Remediis Secretis

Circulo Cientifico – Madrid

Publisher: Circulo Cientifico – Madrid

Limited Edition: 999 copies

Binding: Brown leather binding

Commentary: 1 volume by Andrés Manrique and Agustín Fernández
Language: Spanish

1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.

Facsimile Copy Available!

Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)

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