(Soares, Manoel de Moraes) | An unpublished manuscript history of medicine

(Soares, Manoel de Moraes)

Unpublished 18^th century manuscript, titled “Epithome Historico-Medico-Politico.”

Manuscript, 8vo (170 x 105 mm). Ink on paper, accomplished in multiple hands; some browning and offsetting. Crush crimson morocco, covers with richly gilt borders and floral motif at center, spin with raised bands in six compartments, each gilt tooled, gilt lettering piece, marbled endpapers with ink signature at corner; a few scuffs and light wear, small worming at the head and foot of spine.

The first comprehensive modern history of medicine in Portuguese.

A late eighteenth-century Portuguese manuscript on the history of medicine, apparently unpublished, beginning with the ancient Greeks and continuing until the author's own day, laying particular emphasis on the relationship between physicians and men of influence. Authorship has been attributed to Manoel de Moraes Soares, whose 1760 publication of Memorial critic-medico, historico-physico-mechanio bears similarity in title.

The most recent date mentioned in the text is 1771 with several other events from the 1750s and 1760s are recorded, and the maps cited are mid-century ones that were standard in the third quarter of the eighteenth century. Epithome notes the contributions to healing of the monastic orders and credits the Moors with the benefits they brought to science during their Iberian hegemony, giving many particulars of the work of physicians of various faiths under the Caliphate. With mentions of individual cures, drugs and doctors, the words "historico-medico-politico" in the title reflects the author's concern for the standing of medical science in different communities. Epithome also features a “Lista Geographica” catalogue of the universities, hospitals, observatories, botanic gardens, laboratories and similar institutions in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Within this catalogue, Latin American institutions are featured, with the mention of The College of William and Mary incorrectly located at Jamestown, Virginia, alongside hospitals in New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Montreal.

Manoel de Moraes Soares was born in Coimbra in 1727 and died Lisbon around 1800. Soares published only two works concerning: the translation of La Condamine's work on smallpox vaccination, Memoria sobre a inoculaçam das bexigas (1762) and Memorial critic-medico (1760).

REFERENCES

Innocêncio VI, 67 and XVI, 273; Silvestre Ribeiro, História dos estabelecimentos científicos volumes II & V

PROVENANCE

Duke of Lafões (library stamp to title-page) — sale in our London rooms, 27 November 1986, lot 410.