HELBACH, Wendelin von

First edition of this scarce compendium of medical remedies, in German, for conditions head to foot, with sections on plague and treatments based on the work of famous physician. Little is known of Wendelin Helbach (1518-88), from Mühlberg. Beside writing theological and Neo-Latin poetic works, he edited the present work, attributed in the title to an identified probably princely author . It begins with an examination of remedies against conditions of the head, gradually proceeding towards the feet, with each section providing a list of ingredients and instructions for preparation: e.g., ailments of the eye and neck, dizziness, skull fractures, mental illnesses, nose-bleeding, lethal bleeding, stomach ulcers, fever, kidney stones, and sleeping disorders. For most conditions, several alternative remedies are provided, in the form of pills, powders, etc., but especially therapeutic waters. For the plague lutum armenum is advised, ultimately coming from Avicenna and known for its healing qualities against putrefaction. One of the plague remedies, advertised in the title, was written by the famous physician Lonicer. Interestingly, Latin is almost never used, thus making Hortulus a fine compendium of early German medical vocabulary, providing the names of hundreds of conditions as well as technical and botanical pharmaceutical terms.
A scarce work.