Pliny the Elder - A Natural History

Herbals are the building blocks of the foundation of Apothecary. They are the text books that hold our knowledge. To understand apothecary we know look back at the period texts. Tonight's Herbals is....

Naturalis Historia

Pliny the Elder

The Death of Pliny the Elder 

•Gaius Plinius Secundus

•Born in 23 or 24 CE in Novum Comum, a small city in the region known as Gallia Transpadana.

•Died in the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius while trying to rescue his friend Pomponianus and his family.

•A Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher.

•Also a naval and army commander and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian.

Natural History -1470

•Earliest known copy – Nonantulus 5th or 6th Century

•Earliest Manuscript - Codex Bamburgensis 10th       Century

•Leidensis Vossianus -11th Century

•Codex Parisinus Latinus – 10th or 11th Century

•37 Books

•2,000 Manuscripts Referenced

•33,727 Items Listed

•400 Authors Referenced

•One of the largest single works to have survived from the Roman Empire to the modern day and to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge.

•Pliny claims to be the only Roman ever to have undertaken such a work.

•Covers the fields of botany, zoology, astronomy, geology and mineralogy.

•His discussions of some technical advances are the only sources for those inventions

•It is virtually the only work which describes the work of artists of the time

•A true window into 1st Century Rome.

  

Smallpox Treatment - 1579

Smallpox are not something that we are concerned with treating these days... as they have been eradicated, however in Tudor England its was a disease feared by many. 

A treatment for smallpox per Bulleins Bulwarke of Defence against All Sicknesse, Soarenesse, and Woundes That Doe Dayly Assaulte Mankinde: Which Bulwarke Is Kept with Hilarius the Gardener, & Health the Phisicion, with the Chirurgian, to Helpe the Wounded Souldiours. Published in 1579. I have transcribed it as it was and then fixed the spelling to help ease of reading. Willian Bulleins was a Nurse-Surgeon for Henry VIII of England. He wrote a book simples and other medicinal cures.

Hope you enjoy looking into the past! 

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ORIGINAL (SPELLING AND WORDING INTACT)

(SPELLING AND WORDING ALTERED FOR EASE OF READING.)

What is the nature of Sulpher, called Brimstone? SVLPHER called Brimstone, is hoat and dry in the fourth de∣gree: with this Sulpher, and fyre, God plaged the People of So∣dom, and Gomor, for their abhominable Sinnes against Nature. Supher is one of the simples put into the receypt of Gunpouder, wherewyth God by his instruments hath plaged the proude World with, through mercilesse Gunnes, Sulpher is found in diuers partes of ye worlde, as in vaynes of the Earth, Welles, Pittes, aswell in the colde partes of Iseland, as in the hoat partes of Inde. Of a sulpherous humour it is pre∣supposed that the waters of the Bathes heere in England haue their con∣tinuall warmnesse. Also in Italy in the fielde Senensis, vpon ye mountaines not farre from the warme Bathes of S. Philip, is mutch Brimstone foūde, therefore it is none errour to say that the hoat Bathes haue their originall spryng of Brimstone. Sulpher hath vertue to dry vp Scabbes being tem∣pred wyth fasting spittle, Uinegar, and Swynes grease. It also helpeth Leprous, Scabbes, and Poxes, being sodden in Oyle Debay, and sharpe Uinegar

What is the nature of Sulphur, called Brimstone? SULPHER called Brimstone, is hot and dry in the fourth degree: with this Sulphur, and fire, God plagued the People of Sodom & Gomora, for their abominable Sines against Nature. Sulphur is one of the simples put into the receipt of Gunpowder, wherewith God by his instruments hath plagued the proud World with, through merciless Guns,  Sulphur is found in divers parts of ye world, as in veins of the Earth, Welles,  Pits,as well in the cold parts of Iceland,  as in the hot parts of Inde. Of a Sulphurous humour it is presupposed that the waters of the Bathes here in England have their continual warmness. Alsoin Italy in the  field Senensis upon the mountains not far  from the warm Bathes of S. Philip, is much Brimstone found, therefore it is none error to say that the hot Bathes have their original spring of Brimstone. Sulfur hath virtue to dry up scabs being tempered  with fasting spittle, vinegar, and swine’s grease. It also helps leprous, scabs, and poxes, being sodden in oil debay, and  sharp vinegar.

HL Seamus O'Caellaigh

Wooo Apothecary Blog!

Hello Blog!

I am super excited to start my blog about Apothecary research. I hope that someone can use it to start their research or help them improve their projects.

I want to cover various sources and basic knowledge. I want to share my struggles, in hope that others will not struggle, and  use it to map out my thoughts.

If there is something specific you would like to know about let me know!!!

HL Seamus O'Caellaigh