PLANIS CAMPY, David de.

by David de Planis Campy

£2,250 · Offered by Sokol Books

Good copies of the first editions of these important works on syphilis and gun wounds. David de Planis Campy (c.1584-1644) advertised himself as ‘Chirurgien Galenic Spagiric’, following both ancient medical and iatrochemical theories, i.e., the interpretation and study of medicine and physiology in chemical terms. ‘La verolle recogneue’ is entirely devoted to syphilis, known as ‘Dame Verolle’ (Lady Pox). It suggests that, as stated by Paré, its spreading was caused by the will of God and sexual behaviour, to which it adds astral influences (‘which excite the constellation of the genital parts’) to account for cases preceded by no sexual contact (Poirier, pp.159-60). It begins with a few sections on the causes, symptoms, differences and prognostics of the ‘grosse verolle’, with instructions on its treatment and suitable medicaments. Part II, ‘Antidotaire venerien’, focuses on the detailed preparation of remedies against syphilis, e.g., Guaiac wood, cinnabar, quicksilver oil, arsenic, Mercury balm and liqueur, laudanum (‘take some good opium and let it dry in the sun’), etc. Planis Campy specifies which remedies may also treat other kind of pox or skin ulcers, such as the plague and smallpox (‘petit verolle’), as well as gout. ‘Traicté des playes’ is devoted to wounds caused by muskets and the best ways to treat them, debunking ‘errors’ both theoretical and practical perpetuated by surgeons. The first section provides a short history of the invention of gunpowder, the origins o

• Binding: Hardcover

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