BAUHIN, Gaspard.
(1560 – 1624)
Bauhinus was educated at Padua, Italy and the University of Montpellier, France; returned to Basel, 1580; recieved M.D., Basel, 1581; appointed professor of Greek, University of Basel, 1582; professor of anatomy and botany, 1588 and practical medicine, 1614; eponym (with brother Jean) for plant genus, "Bauhinia"; first to classify plants by divisions of genus and species; collected plants in Italy, Germany and France, describing many new species.
Biographical references: Catalogue of Portraits of Naturalists: 159 [15 portraits listed]. • Ferguson, Bibliotheca Chemica, 1906: 1, 83. • Hirsch, Biographisches Lexikon, 1884-8: 1, 382-83. • ISIS, 1913-65: 118 [see Gaspard Bauhin.]. • ISIS, 1966-75: 34. • Thomas, Dictionary of Biography, 1884: 310. • World Who's Who in Science: 130.
1. Latin, 1613 [First edition].
Caspari | Bauhini | Basil. D. | Eiusdemq. Academ. | Anatom. et Botanic. | Professor. Ordin. | De | Lapidis Bezaar | Orient. et Occident. | Cervini item et | Germanici | Ortv, Natvra, dif- | ferentijs, veroque vsu | ex | Veterum & Recentiorum placitis | Liber | hactenus non editus. | [ornament] | Basileæ | Apud Conr. Waldkirch. | [rule] | Anno M DC XIII.
8°: )(8 (:)4 A-S8 T4; 160l.; [24], [1]-288, [8] p., 4 plates, ornamental initials and headpieces.
Very rare. This is an early treatise describing the bezoar of mystical and medical properties of calculi formed in the kidneys and guts of various animals. Such stones and similar animal calculi were the subject of intense interest from Classical times due to their supposed property as an antidote to poison or as an ingredient in various medical preparations. Bauhinus' treatise is one of the earliest to treat the subject and it is replete with mystical suppositions and historical notes. Its 46 chapters provide descriptions and discussions of the various specimen types as well as methods for determining real stones from imitations. Throughout the author has included considerable historical information, especially in reference to these stones used as medical remedies and antidotes.
Bibliographical references: Agassiz, Bibliographia Geologiæ, 1848-54: 1, 212. • DSB: 1, 522-5. • Ferguson, Bibliotheca Chemica, 1906: 1, 83. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9 [no copy listed]. • Hoover Collection: no. 102. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 88. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 477. • Thorndike, L., "De lapidibus", Ambix, 8, (1960), 6-23. [Historical review of Aristotele's `De Lapidibus' from beginnings through the Renaissance.]: 7, 242-7 & 8, 61-3. • VD17: 14:009611T. • Wellcome Catalog (Books): 1, no. 731.
2. Latin, 1625 [2nd edition].
Caspari | Bavhini Basileens, | Archiatri | & Praxeos Profess. | Ordinar. | De | Lapidis Bezaaris | Oriental. & Occident. | Cervin. & Germanici | Ortu, natura, differentiis | veroque usu | Ex | Veterum & recentiorum placitis | Liber | priore editione auctior. | [ornament] | Basileæ | Sumptibus Lvdovici Regis | [rule] | Anno cI\smBackC. I\smBackC. cxxv.
8°: )(8 2)(4 A-T8; 164l.; [24], [1]-294, [10] p., title vignette, ornamental initials and headpieces.
Rare. This second edition contains additional text and increases the number of chapters to 51.
Bibliographical references: Agassiz, Bibliographia Geologiæ, 1848-54: 1, 212. • Ferguson, Bibliotheca Chemica, 1906: 1, 83n. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9 [no copy listed]. • Hoover Collection: no. 103. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 88. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 478. • VD17: 23:294227L. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 144. • Wellcome Catalog (Books): 1, no. 732.
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