AN EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY OF THE MATERIA MEDICA, OR OF THE NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SUBSTANCES MADE USE OF IN MEDICINE: CONTAINING A COMPENDIOUS VIEW OF THEIR NATURAL HISTORY, AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR PHARMACEUTIC PROPERTIES, AND AN ESTIMATE OF THEIR MEDICINAL POWER, SO FAR AS THEY CAN BE ASCERTAINED BY EXPERIENCE, OR BY RATIONAL INDUCTION FROM THEIR SENSIBLE QUALITIES.
Book Details + Condition: Printed by H. Baldwin, for the author (London). First Edition, 1761. Hardcover with full leather boards measuring 11" x 9". 591 pages with Index and Errata. A complete and comprehensive Materia Medica herbal describing the nature, characteristics and medicinal properties of a large number of plants. It is one of first botanical medicinal herbals of the 18th century. William Lewis (1708-1771) was a British chemist, apothecary and physician who is particularly known for his experimental history of the Materia Medica, of which a second edition appeared in 1768, and a third in 1784, due to the popularity of the work.
Firm binding; light wear to boards, with rubbing; interior is clean and free of markings, save script name to ffep and a few areas of toning / foxing. Old calf has been expertly rebacked; top of title page was chipped and professionally repaired.
