615.32: Medicine Chest

Plate 34 from a reproduction of the "Badianus Manuscript", John Hopkins Press, 1940

While the best way to get medical information is to speak with a medical professional, the Saint Louis Public Library offers an incredible collection of authoritative, up-to-date medical reference resources including books, periodicals, and databases.  These resources cover current medical theories and practices from a variety of perspectives, and are useful to all library users from general readers to in-depth researches.

On the other hand, if you’re curious about historical or “fringe” medicine and medical practices, we have some of that too–although you might be surprised at what you find:

For example, check our copy of a  1940 translation of the Badianus Manuscript, a 16th century book of Aztec herbal remedies.  The book features reproductions of original illustrations from the manuscript, along with recipes calling for all kinds of bizarre ingredients from mole bile to dove poop!!  Pictured above is an illustration of plants that are part of a remedy for hiccups.

If that’s not enough to cure your itch for historical medical information, check out our copy of a 1925 reprint of The Receipt Book of Ann Blencowe, first published in 1694.  The book mainly consists of recipes for extremely unappetizing food (spinach pudding, anyone?), but Ms. Blencowe also includes a chapter of extremely unappetizing (and probably not recommended) recipes for medicine.

Here is Ms. Blencowe’s recipe for Horse Dung Water, which she recommends for women in labor (the unfamiliar spelling is from the book):

“To make ye horse dunge water:
Take horse dunge and putt to it so much Ale as will make it like hasty pudding, and put it into your still.  Then putt on ye topp one pound of treakell and a quarter of a pound of genger in powder, and a quarter of a pound of sweet aniseeds, and so distill all these together.”

…and there’s more where that came from! Contact Brian Novak bnovak@slpl.org in the Science and Technology Department to develop a search strategy for finding more historical medical books and disgusting recipes!

As always, for current medical information, no special strategy is required–Just use our catalog at slpl.org or visit any of our library branches.  Browse the 610-619 dewey range.