Rome

1469 CE

#9635

De officiis. Add: Paradoxa Stoicorum; Laelius, sive de amicitia; Cato maior, sive de senectute.

Of the 71 editions of Cicero's classical work on aging and death printed in the 15th century, Cato major de senectute, the Incunabula Short Title Catalogue cites 71, indicating the extreme popularity of Cicero's works…

1475 CE

#9146

De conservatione sanitatis. With additions by Johannes Philippus de Lignamine.

This medieval guide to health and hygiene is sometimes misattributed to Hugo Benzi. It was one of the earliest medical or health texts to appear in print, and is unusual in that the printer, who was not a physician, i…

1478 CE

#276

De animalibus. Edited by Fernandus Cordubensis (Fernando de Córdoba).

Albertus was a Dominican monk and the most eminent naturalist of the 13th century; his work on animals contained a good deal of personal observation. He was the first to comment on virtually all of the writings of Ari…

1481 CE

#6929

De natura hominis. Add: De victu; De tuenda valetudine; Medicinae lex; Iusiurandum; Demonstratio quod artes sunt; Invectiva in obtrectatores medicinae. Tr: Andreas Brentius.

The writings of Hippocrates began to appear in print in the 1480s, and only a few of the works attributed to Hippocrates were printed in the 15th century. Though the date of this edition is unstated within the book it…

1487 CE

#1589

Frontinus: De aquaeductibus. Edited by Pomponius Laetus and Johannes Sulpitius Verulanus.

De aquaeductibus, or De aquis urbis Romae was written about 100 CE by the Roman senator Frontinus. Its title is sometimes translated as The Aquaducts of Rome, and most recently by Rodgers as On the Water-Management of…

1489 CE

#1589.1

Gerontocomia.

The first printed book on geriatrics – a guide to proper hygiene, physical and mental, and particularly to the diet of the aged. Translated into English by L.R. Lind as Gerontocomia: on the care of the aged and …

1509 CE

#8445

Medicinae Pliniae libri quinque finiunt foeliciter.

The Medicina Plinii was an anonymous compilation of remedies dating to the early 4th century CE ."The excerptor, saying that he speaks from experience, offers the work as a compact resource for travelers in dealing wi…

1514 CE

#5559.1

Practica in arte chirurgica copiosa… continens novem libros.

The first complete system of surgery after that of Guy de Chauliac. In 1503 Vigo became the personal surgeon to Pope Julius II. His Practica in arte chirurgia copiosa was completed in 1514 and first published in Latin…

1525 CE

#6820

Hippocratis Coi medicorum omnium longe principis, octoginta volumnia quibus maxima ex parte, annorum circiter duo millia Latina caruit lingua. . . .translated by Marco Fabio Calvo

The first collected edition of the Hippocratic collection in the Latin translation of Marco Fabio Calvo of Ravenna, dedicated to Pope Clement VII. "This volume, which preceded the first, Aldine, edition of the Greek t…

1536 CE

#1804

Examen omnium simplicium medicamentorum, quorum in officinis usus est.

Brasavola introduced some new drugs into the formulary. The book is written in the form of a dialogue. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1554 CE

#13119

Aquatilium animalium historiae. Liber primus cum eorumdem formis aere excusis.

Salviani taught at the University of Rome until 1568, after which he was chief physician to the House of Farnese and three successive popes, Pope Julius III, Pope Marcellus II and Pope Paul IV. "Salviani’s work …

1556 CE

#378.02

Historia de la composicion del cuerpo humano…

Historia de la composicion del cuerpo humano Spanish physician Juan Valverde de Amusco was issued in Rome at the press of Antonio Salamanca. This was the first great original medical book in Spanish and the most origi…

1584 CE

#9654

Discorsi intorno al sanguinar i corpi humani, il modo di ataccare le sanguisuche e ventose e far frittioni e vescicatorii con buoni et utili avertimenti.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1585 CE

#7595

Anatomicae praelectiones.

First description of a clear distinction between what is now known as gray and white matter in the central nervous system. The work also includes the first attempt to illustrate the brain in a sagittal view. The nine …

1585 CE

#10959

Herbario nuovo...con figure, che rappresentano le vive piante, che nascondo in tutta Europa, & nell' Indie Orientali, & Occidentali.

Durante, physician to Pope Sixtus V, published this encyclopedia of medicinal plants from Europe and the East and West Indies, illustrated with woodcuts by Leonardo Parasole. The work contains discussions of the habit…

1586 CE

#10634

De venenis, et antidotis prolegomena: seu communia praecepta ad humanam vitam tuendam saluberrima; in quibus diffinitiva methodus venenorum proponitur per genera, ac differentias suas, partes, & passiones, praeservandi modum, & communia ad eorum curationem antidota complectens; de canis rabiosi morsu, et eius curatione.

Digital facsimile from cervantesvirtual.com at this link.

1593 CE

#44

Kitāb al-Qānūn fial-ţibb. [Libri V Canonis medicinae.]

Title transliterated. Text and title page (except imprint) are in Arabic. This is the first printing of the text in Arabic of Book V of al-Qānūn. See also S. M. Afnan, Avicenna, his life and works. London, 1958.

1596 CE

#7968

De naturali vinorum historia de vinis Italiae et de conviviis antiquorum libri septem....Accessit de factitiis ac cervisiis de q[ue] Rheni, Galliae, Hispaniae et de totius Europa vinis et de omni vinorum usu compendiaria tractatio.

A comprensive study of the production, storage, characteristics, and use of wines. Book two considers wine in relation to health. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1621 CE–1661 CE

#1720

Quaestiones medico-legales. 9 vols.

Zacchias, a Papal physician, was one of the founders of medical jurisprudence. His treatise includes information concerning injuries of the eye, etc., and contains section on the medico-legal aspects of insanity. The …

1628 CE

#1821.1

Rerum medicarum Novae Hispaniae thesaurus, seu, Plantarum animalium mineralium Mexicanorum historia.

This summary of Hemández’s very extensive manuscript account of the natural history of Mexico (see No. 1820.1) was edited by N.A. de Recchi, and published at the expense of Prince Federico Cesi (1585-1630…

1630 CE

#259

Persio tradotto.

The first book to contain illustrations of natural objects as seen through the microscope— specifically an engraving of the exterior surface of bees. The work includes the Latin text of the Satyrae VI of Aulus P…

1632 CE

#6795

Quaestio iatrophilologica.

Learned bibliophile Gabriel Naudé eventually became Mazarin’s librarian and built up for his master a famous collection of books. He wrote an important medical dictionary. Four further parts of the above,…

1642 CE

#7179

Geneanthropeiae sive de hominis generatione decateuchon. Ubi ex ordine quaecunique ad humanae generationis liturgiam, ejusdemque principia, organa, tempus, usum, modum, occasionem voluptatem, aliasque omnes affectiones, quae in aphrodisiis accidere quoquomodo solent, ac possunt dedita opera plene methodice, & iucunde pertractantur.

An encyclopedic work on sexuality and physical love in all its aspects, practical and credulous, including the widest variety of possible positions, the anatomy and physiology of the sexual organs and varous aspects o…

1652 CE

#3050

Iatrologismorum seu medicinalium observationum pentecostae quinque utilibus praeceptis.

Panaroli described hemolytic jaundice of the newborn.

1658 CE

#2528.1

Scrutinium physico-medicum contagiosae luis, quae pestis dicitur.

Kircher, a Jesuit scholar and polymath, not specifically trained in medicine, was probably the first to employ the microscope in investigating the cause of disease. He mentioned that the blood of plague patients was f…

1669 CE

#13548

Il tabacco opera ... Nella quale si tratta dell'origine, historia, coltura, preparatione, qualità natura, virtà & uso in fumo, in polvere, in foglia, in lambitivo, et in medicina della pianta volgarmente detta tabacco, si discorre degl'vtili ch'arreca moderatamente preso, de i danni ch'apporta smoderatamente usato, e qual sia il vero e legitimo modo di prenderlo: trattato naturale, medico, morale & curioso.

Discusses the origin, history, cultivation, preparation, nature and virtues of tobacco, whether used for smoking, snuffing, chewing, etc. or for medicinal purposes (Waring). "The custom of smoking, its role in divinat…

1672 CE

#384

Anatomia chirurgica.

First book devoted entirely to surgical anatomy.

1680 CE–1681 CE

#3669.3

De motu animalium. 2 pts.

Borelli originated the neurogenic theory of the heart’s action and first suggested that the circulation resembled a simple hydraulic system. He was the first to insist that the heart beat was a simple muscular c…

1681 CE

#13752

Recreatione dell'occhio e della mente nell'osservation ' delle chiocciole, proposta a curiosi delle opere dell natura.

The first treatise devoted entirely to molluscs, and the first practical guide for shell collectors. "Bonanni's work is significant for his careful attempts to precisely describe shell morphology. Unfortunately, due t…

1689 CE

#12782

Anatome ossium novis inventis illustrata.

Gagliardi, a papal physician, fiirst described the lamellar structure of the bones. He also carried out some tests and comparative research between human and calf bones, and probably first described a case of bone tub…

1691 CE

#386

Anatomia per uso et intelligenza del disegno ricercata non solo su gl’ossi, e muscoli del corpo humano.

Contains 56 copper-plates, excellent anatomically and artistically, with commentary by Giovanni Maria Lancisi. This is one of the finest of all books on anatomy for artists. English translation with plates re-engraved…

1691 CE

#264

Observationes circa viventia, quae in rebus non viventibus reperiuntur. Cum micrographia curiosa siue Rerum minutissimarum obseruationibus, quæ ope microscopij recognitæ ad viuum exprimuntur. His accesserunt aliquot animalium testaceorum icones non antea in lucem editae. Omnia curiosorum naturæ exploratorum vtilitati & iucunditati expressa & oblata.

Illustrates several early microscopes, including the famous microscopes of the Bolognese Joseph Campani. Contradicting Redi, Bonanni tried to show that spontaneous generation was possible in animals "without blood and…

1696 CE

#6703

Theatron in quo maximorum Christiani orbis pontifcum archiatros…spectandos exhibet.

The first book on the lives of papal physicians.

1705 CE

#1380

Dissertatio epistolaris ad Lucam Schroeckium de glandulis conglobatis durae meningis humanae.

Includes a description and illustration of the Pacchionian bodies of the arachnoid tissue under the dura, producing by pressure slight depressions (“Pacchionian depressions”). See also Pacchioni’s De…

1707 CE

#2731

De subitaneis mortibus libri duo.

In the above work Lancisi noted cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation as causes of sudden death. He was the first to describe valvular vegetation, and his book gives a classification of the cardiac diseases then recogniz…

1709 CE

#12991

Musaeum Kircherianum sive musaeum a P. Athanasio Kirchero in Collegio Romano Societatis Jesu iam pridem incoeptum nuper restitutum, auctum descriptum, & iconibus illustratum....a Philippo Bonanni.

Extensively illustrated catalogue by Bonanni of the Musaeum Kircherianum, formed in the mid-17th century by the Jesuit polymath, Athanasius Kircher, and housed in the Jesuit Collegio Romano. Reflective of Kircher's po…

1714 CE

#1312

Tabulae anatomicae.

A romantic history attaches to this fine collection of plates, drawn by Eustachius himself and completed in 1552. They remained unprinted and forgotten in the Vatican Library until discovered in the early 18th century…

1717 CE

#5232

De noxiis paludum effluviis, eorumque remediis.

Lancisi suggested that since malaria disappears after drainage it was due to some sort of poison emanating from marshes and possibly transmitted by mosquitoes. He planned a drainage scheme for marshy regions. His work…

1717 CE

#11515

Metallotheca opus posthumum, auctoritate, & munificentia Clementis undecimi pontificis maximi e tenebris in lucem eductum; opera autem, & studio Ioannis Mariae Lancisii archiatri pontificii illustratum.

In 1717 papal physician Giovanni Maria Lancisi published the catalogue of the Vatican "armaria" series housing the natural history museum collected by one of his predecessors at the Vatican, the 16th century papal phy…

1728 CE

#2973

De motu cordis et aneurysmatibus.

Lancisi noted the frequency of cardiac aneurysm and showed the importance of syphilis, asthma, palpitation, violent emotions, and excess as causes of aneurysms. He was the first to describe cardiovascular syphilis. La…

1741 CE

#395.2

Tabulae anatomicae.

27 anatomical copperplates after drawings by the most influential painter of the Italian Baroque movement, who also excelled as an architect. The editor, Cajetano Petrioli, supplied the text and small numbered anatomi…

1784 CE

#6706

Degli archiatri pontifici. 2 vols.

Biographies of papal physicians. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1811 CE

#406

Anatomia per uso de’pittori e scultori.

This anatomy for artists and sculptors contains 38 good copperplates in black and red.

1892 CE

#5244

Sulle febbre malariche estivo-autumnali.

A summary of the Italian work on malaria. English translation, 1894.

1900 CE

#5252.1

Studi di uno zoologo sulla malaria.

Includes the best illustrations of the various stages of the malaria parasite published up to that time.

1914 CE

#11429

Bibliographia medica typographica pedemontana saeculorum XV et XVI. A Iohanne Carboneli medico doctore collecta in qua non tantum auctorum nomina sed etiam fere omnium operum inscriptiones eadem forma mensuraque relatae inveniuntur. Cum appendicibus et explanationibus atque indicibus copiosissimis.

1925 CE–1928 CE

#6725

Profili bio-bibliografici di medici naturalisti celebri Italiani dal sec. XVo al sec. XVIIIo. 2 vols.

1936 CE

#8551

Il "Tractatus de pulsibus," di Alfano Io arcivescovo di Salerno, sec. xi: Trascrizione del codice 1024 della biblioteca dell'Arsenale di Parigi (da carta 16 v. a carta 18 r). Annotazioni e commento con tavoli di riproduzione del testo [di] Pietro Capparoni.

Alfanus I or Alfano I, a physician before he became archbishop, was one of the earliest doctors of the Schola Medica Salernitana. He was Archbishop of Salerno from 1058 to his death. He was famed as a translator, writ…

1937 CE

#6648

I santi nella storia della medicina.

1939 CE

#6565

Bibliografia di storia della medicina italiana.

Classified list of 7451 books and papers, some annotated, on Italian medical history and biography.