HELVÉTIUS (Jean-Adrien)

Lot 43
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Estimation :
3000 - 4000 EUR
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Result : 3 791EUR
HELVÉTIUS (Jean-Adrien)
A treatise on the most common diseases and the remedies to cure them. Third edition. Paris, Le Mercier, 1724. 2 volumes in-12, red morocco, triple gilt fillet, ornate spine, interior lace, olive green morocco lining, gilt coat of arms in the center, marbled paper guard, gilt edges on marble (Binding of the period). Jean-Adrien Helvétius (c. 1661-1727), inspector general of the hospitals of Flanders and physician to Monsieur, duc d'Orléans, brother of the king, was the grandfather of Claude-Adrien, the author of the sulphurous philosophical work De L'Esprit (1758). He made his fortune with a medicine against dysentery made of ipecacuanha root powder. Written for the instruction of the sick poor and for the charitable people who are willing to assist them, his Treatise on Diseases was first published in 1703 and is considered his major work: volume I contains various recipes for vomitives, purgatives, herbal juices, medicinal broths and other quack remedies, such as the very curious and unpalatable "eau de mille-fleurs", obtained by distillation of fresh dung or hot cow urine and whose description by the author is picturesque (pp. 500-503); volume II contains, among others, remedies against fevers, asthma, scurvy and plague. Beautiful red morocco binding lined with olive morocco, with the coat of arms of Michel Robert Le Peletier des Forts, Count of Saint-Fargeau (1675-1740), intendant and then controller general of finances, minister of state of Louis XV. His coat of arms is stamped in the lining. The catalog of his library, with more than 2500 works, was drawn up in 1741 by Barois; our copy is listed under n°839. On the titles, an 18th century handwritten bookplate of M. Gressent, counsellor at the Parliament of Rouen. From the library of John Roland Abbey. Nerves stained on the spine of volume I and skillful restoration to a bit and a headpiece.
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