JACOPI, Johannes (or JACME, Jean or JASME).

Tractatus de Pestilentia.

      Gothic type, 20 lines. [12] leaves. Small 4to (197 x 138 mm.), modern boards. [Augsburg: Johann Keller, 1478-82]. First edition of one of the earliest, most popular, and important tracts on the plague. This is an extremely rare book — ISTC locates only four copies: BSB, BL, Countway, and NLM. The in-progress GKW locates another copy at the Cistercian monastery at Wilhering in Upper Austria. The printer of this book, Johann Keller, published only five books and they are, for the most part, very rare. Jacopi (or Jacobi or Jaume or Jacme or Jasme), was a “Catalan physician, and translator from Arabic into Catalan, professor of medicine in Montpellier. His birthplace is unknown, but it was possibly Lleida (Lerida on the Segre), and he may have studied in the university of that city. He was mentioned as early as 1360 in a contested election for the chancellorship of the University of Montpellier, was finally elected to that position in 1364, and retained it until his death in 1384. He was consulting physician to several popes and kings: he attended pope Urban V (1362-70); in 1370 he was called to Avignon to aid pope Gregory XI (1370-78) ; in 1378 he was appointed physician to Charles V the Wise, king of France 1364-80; in 1384 he attended the antipope Clement VII (1378-94) in Avignon... “Joannes wrote a number of medical treatises, notably the Tractatus de pestilentia, the Secretarium practicae medicinae, and the Tractatus de calculis in vesica... “The first of these was probably the first to be composed, about 1373. Judging by the number of early printed editions, Joannes’ treatise on the plague was by far the most popular work of its kind... “His plague treatise is divided into three parts, dealing with the cause of the pestilence, the proper regimen for avoiding it, and the treatment. In part I he says that the plague may be caused by infections coming from bad sanitation, foul stagnant water, corrupt air. The two signs of the disease are fever and apostumes. Various questions concerning the susceptibilities of different people are debated. Part II deals with the precautions against the disease which everyone should take. Suitable dwelling places and proper living conditions are described; methods of fumigation, proper diet and exercise are advised. Bloodletting is to be used with caution. In part III the methods of treatment are discussed; these are purgation, bloodletting, and strengthening drugs.”–Sarton, III, Pt. 2, p. 1687. A fine and fresh copy with many edges uncut. ❧ B.M.C., II, p. 361. Goff J-15. Klebs 542.1. Klebs & Sudhoff, Die Ersten Gedruckten Pestschriften, no. 62 & pp. 145-49. Osler, Incunabula Medica, 190.