Institutionum Pharmaceuticarum. Libri Quinque.; Quibus Accedunt de Materia Medica. Libri tres. Omnibus Succedit Officina Pharmaceutica, Sive Antidotarium ab Eodem Auctore Commentariis Illustratum

Paris: de la Noue, 1608. First. hardcover. good. 3 parts in 1 volume. Copper engraved main title-page and engraved author's portrait, both dated 1608 and engraved by Leonard Gaultier; engraved title-page to the 3rd part by Jaspar Isaac, and numerous woodcut initials, head and tailpieces throughout. 10, [16], 195; 257, [42]; [24], 320, [24] pages. Short thick 4to, early sheep, very worn and soiled but professionally re-cased and hinges strengthened. Some waterstaining mainly in both the very front and back, but not completely in the margins; ownership signature at foot of the title-page. Parisiis: Apud viduam Gulielmi de la Noue et Dionys. de la Noue, 1608. A good complete copy of this important book -- OCLC lists 13 copies including those at Yale, Harvard & The National Library of Medicine.<br/><br/> First edition of a comprehensive and influential medical work, written by the Parisian physician Jean de Renou (1568-1620). "Providing a formulary, a textbook, and a guide to the preservation of drugs, the use of pharmaceutical equipment and to the rules of professional ethics" (Sonnedecker). The work is divided into two parts, each with an individual copper engraved title-page. The first part starts with some general chapters on the principles of pharmacy and what a proper apothecary is like. Following are several chapters on different types of medicines, their characteristics, how to compound them and when to prescribe them. Three large chapters cover the different ingredients and their medicinal powers, distinguishing between plants, minerals, and parts of animals. Whereas the first part is more introductory and informative, the second part is more like a pharmacopoeia. Given are many recipes for medicines, with comments on the diseases or ailments they're supposed to cure.<br/><br/>