Author: NICANDER, (Greek) [COLOPHONIUS]
Title: Theriaca. Alexipharmaca interprete Jo. Gorraeo Parisiensi (Ejusdam interpretis in opus utrunque scholia...)
Description: Paris, Apud Guil. Morelium, 1557. In Graecis Typographum Regium. 3 vols in 1. W. 3 printer's marks, num. fine woodcut initials. Fine 17th c. full vellum. [a4, A-N4, O2; 2a4-2b4, X2, 2C4-2n4; 2A-2I4]. (VIII, 223 (=215) [=1- 106, (107-110), 111 - 223], I (blank); 80 (i.e. 72 pp.) (W. annotations in a fine contemp. scholarly hand.). (Large black bookplate 'Grendel' on upper free endp.). Encycl. Brit.: 'Nicander of Colophon, 185 - 135 BC, a Greek poet, physician, and grammarian, succeeded his father Damnaeus or Xenphanes as hereditary priest of Apollo at Clarus, the famous temple in the territory of the Colophonius. Hence he is often called Colophonius. He wrote a great number of works... of which only 2 toxicological books, The Theriaca and Alexipharmaca, are preserved.': Durling, 3341: "Text of the 'Theriaca' and 'Alexipharmaca' in Greek and Latin; text of the 'Scholia' in Gorris' edition of the 'Alexipharma' was published separately in 1549; his edition of the 'Theriaca', in 1556 includes the editor's 'Annotations' to the 'Theriaca' and 'Alexipharmaca' and his "In Alexipharmaca praefatio, omnem de venenis disputationem summatum completens.'': Neuburger, 'The Theriaca deal in 958 hexameters with the symptoms and treatment of poisoning by the bite of poisonous animals; The Alexipharmaca with intoxications through vegetable (also animal and mineral) poisons and the appropriate antidotes. (In both poems 125 different plants are quoted). In spite of many superstitious statements this work had a wide circulation and deserved high appreciation.': Comp. G&M. 2069: 'Nicander was a Greek poet and physician. His 'Theriaca' deals in 958 hexameters with the symptoms and treatment of poisoning by the bites of poisonous animals; the 'Alexipharmaca' considers intoxications through animal vegetable and mineral poisoning and their suitable antidotes. He is the first writer to mention the medical use of the leech.' Fine edition containing the Greek text, with translation and annotations of Gorraeus. Printed in the 'Grecs du Roi', and in nice Italics, which Vascosan had used as one of the first French printers. (See Updike I, 191): Choulant, Handbuch, 63 - 65.

Keywords: pharmacopeia medicine pharmacology pharmacopoeia toxicology 16th materia medica W15 strongbox?