HIPPOCRATES & Johannes HEURNIUS.

Rare first edition of a successful edition and translation by the first Leiden Professor of Medicine, Aphorismi Graecè, & Latinè. Brevi enarratione, sidaque interpretatione ita illustrati, ut ab omnibus facilè intelligi possint. Cum historiis, observationibus, cautionibus, & remediis selectis.

      ex Officina Plantiniana by Christopher Raphelengius, A9FGFK4C5FH3, (Leyden), - 16mo. Contemporay vellum with title in ink on spine. Woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut initials. (16), 512, (16) pp. Rare first edition of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates of Cos (460-370 BC), the father of Medicine, edited and translated into Latin by the famous first Leyden professor of medicine Johannes Heurnius (1543-1601). The aphorisms of Hippocrates are the earliest collection of the kind. It is a series of observations from which the patient's affliction could be deduced and treatment prescribed. Their broad application made them exceptionally valuable to medical practitioners of the time. Included are notable and often invoked phrases as: 'Life is short, [the] art long' and 'The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate'.The translater and editor Joannes Heurnius (Jan van Heurne) had studied at the Hieronymus School in his native town, under a.o. Georgius Macropedius. Afterwards he continued his studies in Louvain (with Gemma Frisius), Paris, where he developed an interest in surgery and finally Padua, the cradle of European medical education, in 1567. In Padua Heurnius became acquainted with the teaching of medical students at the bedside; this innovation had been introduced by Battista da Monte some decades before. He graduated in Padua in 1571 and became immediately court physician of Francois Perrenot, the nephew of Count Granvelle. He held this position until 1573, when he returned to his native town, where he practiced until 1581, when he was appointed professor of medicine at the Leiden University. He was also the physician of William the Silent and Prince Maurits. He introduced for the first time bedside teaching for medical students in Northern Europe. The 'Series lectionum' of the Laiden University annouce lectures of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates in 1599.Apparently the translation by Heurnius was very successful. Re-editions appeared in 1607 (in Leiden and Antwerp), 1609, 1611 - both by the Officina Plantiniana at Leiden -, a 'second edition' was published in 1623 by J. le Maire at Leiden; further editions: 1615 (Lyon, Widow of Ant. de Harsy) and 1690 in Jena. Good copy with ms. ownership's entries on cover and title and some contemporary annotations.- (Binding a bit wrinkled, front hinge loose). NNBW IV, cols. 744-5; Krivatsy 5642; not in Garrison & Morton, nor BMN. [Attributes: First Edition; Hard Cover]