DEFENCE OF MERCURY

Suárez de Ribera, Francisco (?1686-1738): Arcanismo Anti-Galico, o Margarita Mercurial [...] En Madrid, en la Imprenta de Juan de Aristia [...] 1721.

First edition of this defence of the use of mercury in combatting syphilis, written by a doctor and graduate of the medical school of Salamanca. Suárez de Ribera responds to an attack on the use of the metal, published in Salamanca in December 1720, by an anonymous author calling himself Bachiller Philaletes' (cf. preface). A mercury compound is first recorded employed against syphilis in 3rd millennium BC China (see J.E. Lobdell, D. Owsley, 'The Origin of Syphilis', Journal of Sex Research 10.1 (Feb. 1974), 76-79, p. 77), but Suárez de Ribera talks about its use for two centuries. Another cure mentioned is sarsaparilla, which the author notes, on other authority, is best imported from Honduras. Suárez de Ribera's book was published again in 1731. This copy appears to have had some contemporary use.

Details

First edition. 4to., pp. [92] 256 [16]. Chewing to margins of title-page, last few leaves, and endpapers, considerable browning, light staining, a few pages have flaws (affecting text on pp. 177-80, and last leaf of index; can still be read without aid of supplementary copy), bound in contemporary vellum with title along spine, darkened and slightly torn, binding loose from text-block at top joint. Contemporary Spanish owner's inscription on front free endpaper recto (largely illegible), contemporary MS ink marks and very occasional notes possibly in the same hand in margins, f.f.e.p. verso has an MS list by the owner.

Palau 324066. Wellcome V 208. This edition not in Blake.