This work is full of beautiful, intricate, and slightly creepy illustrations of opthamological knowledge and practice from the 16th century. The picture on the left includes flaps that can be lifted up to see deeper into the eye; there are several other such interactive illustrations in this work.
The Duke University History of Medicine Collections acquire, preserve, interpret, and make available for research and instruction materials documenting the history of medicine in the global context of the Westen medical tradition. The collections seek to bring historical perspectives to bear on contemporary health issues and to facilitate an interdisciplinary understanding of the history of medicine. Many of these items are in German or were published in Germany, especially from 1450-1850.
Click here to search for "History of Medicine" anywhere in the Rubenstein catalog and to limit the search using German in the language field to find many fascinating resources.
Click here to search for "History of Medicine Collections (Duke University)" in the Author field in the Rubenstein catalog, and limit in the same way.
Or search the entire Rubenstein Library's catalog here for a more specific keyword, subject, author, or title, and limit the results according to your needs.
Below are some important pieces in our collection:
A 16th century surgical guide for wounds, especially wounds from battle. This copy contains contemporary hand colored illustrations.
Book pertaining to obstetrics, infertility, and abnormalities.
One of the earliest works on ophthalmology. The History of Medicine’s copy is one of four or five worldwide to have contemporary hand colored illustrations. This work also contains three dimensional anatomical flaps of the eye and the brain.
First illustrated edition, with woodcuts by Jost Amman, of Paracelus’s Grosse Wundartzney, his most important medical text, and a highly influential edition.
Contact Rachel Ingold for more information about our History of Medicine collections!
The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manusript Library also has very strong collecting interests in works of early science and alchemy, many of which are published in German or in Germany.
Begin a search in the Rubenstein's catalog for works in German using subject headings such as "alchemy," "magic," and "science." You can then limit your results according to publication date, additional subjects headings, and format, among others.
We have many items related to Paracelsus and alchemy; the item above is a good place to begin.
The listing above is for a Provincial German Book of Secrets. It covers poisons, baldness, medicine, ghosts, fish en papillote, blond hair dye, snaring wild fowl, gilding, verifying virginity, making wine, unbreakable glass, and colors.
This work contains four illustrated volumes that combine biblical interpretation with natural history.
