By Rebecca Laroche with Hillary Nunn Last month, Hillary Nunn (20/02/21013) introduced our series of entries that are considering an exceptional manuscript owned by one Anne Layfielde and dated 1640 housed at the Medical Historical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Our interest in the manuscript stems largely from the remarkable number of … Continue reading Exploring CPP 10a214: The Angel (not) in the Recipe→
What exactly is a ‘recipe collection’? The most obvious answer is something like the example shown below, a formal ‘receptaria’ book of medical receipts and remedies. In the early modern period, and across Europe, these types of collections were fairly common, and especially in wealthier households. These were often carefully constructed documents, containing indices and … Continue reading What is a ‘remedy collection’?: Recording Medical Information in the Seventeenth Century→
By Laura Mitchell Charms can be found in all manner of medieval manuscripts, scrawled in the margins or added (seemingly at random) on blank pages and in the flyleaves. Usually they were simply stuck in some place convenient by someone who thought they would be useful or interesting to have on hand. However, charms also … Continue reading Magic or Medicine? Healing Charms in Fifteenth-Century English Recipe Collections→