Beschreibung:

FERNEL, Jean François De luis venereae curatione perfectissima liber . Antwerp: Christoph Plantin, 1579. 8 o (154 x 91 mm). 68 leaves. (Some pale browning.) 18th-century black morocco (repairs to hinges, a bit rubbed and worn). Provenance : "H.B." (morocco bookplate); M. Escribe, Commissaire-Priseur (booklabel); Paul Decony (inscription on title dated 1850); A.E. Pratt (bookplates). VERY RARE FIRST EDITION. This posthumously published treatise on syphilis was written between 1556 and 1558, around the time Fernel was treating Francis I for the disease. Fernel was the first to observe that the disease was not infectious but contagious, entering the body only through a wounded surface. He introduced the precise descriptive term "lues venera" for the disease and stated that syphilis had been introduced to Europe from the New World. He was critical of the traditional treatment with mercury for the disease. This copy contains the letter at end from Victor Giselinus to Martin Everart, "De hydrargyri usu aliorum item doctorum virorum sententiae" reset on four leaves in the final gathering (a possibly earlier issue exists with this letter in a final gathering of 8 leaves, including an errata leaf and a blank). Garrison-Morton 2374; NLM/Durning 1488; Norman 786; Waller 2989; Wellcome I:2212. [ Bound chronologically with: ] FERNEL. Universa medicina... editio tertia . Frankfurt: Andreas Wechel, 1574. 8 o . Provenance : P. Genault (signature on title); Eligii Paris Barnabitarum (inscription and stamp on title). Third edition, not in Durling. [ And with: ] FERNEL. Febrium curandarum methodus generalis . Frankfurt: Andreas Wechel, 1577. 8 o . FIRST EDITION. NLM/Durling 1486.