Item #23607 ARISTOTLE , in Three Parts (a New Edition) Containing I. His Complete Master-Piece ; II. His Last Legacy ; III. The Family Payscian [ Physician ]. Aristotle.
ARISTOTLE , in Three Parts (a New Edition) Containing I. His Complete Master-Piece ; II. His Last Legacy ; III. The Family Payscian [ Physician ]
ARISTOTLE , in Three Parts (a New Edition) Containing I. His Complete Master-Piece ; II. His Last Legacy ; III. The Family Payscian [ Physician ]
ARISTOTLE , in Three Parts (a New Edition) Containing I. His Complete Master-Piece ; II. His Last Legacy ; III. The Family Payscian [ Physician ]
The Birds and the Bees Talk in 1801

ARISTOTLE , in Three Parts (a New Edition) Containing I. His Complete Master-Piece ; II. His Last Legacy ; III. The Family Payscian [ Physician ]

Manchester: Hopper and Son 1801. v, [6]-215 pages. 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Period calf with paper spine label. Engraved frontispiece and 4 illustrations in the text. A very clean copy, with heavy spotting to the top edge and a small amount of leather loss at the head of the spine panel. The order of the text is "His Complete Master-Piece" followed by "The Family Physician" (note the mis-spelling on the title page) followed by "His Last Legacy". 4 images in the text are found in "His Complete Master-Piece" Sec. II "Of Monsters and of Monstrous Birth" and show maladies in human form with various defects (pages 106-109). Near Fine. Leather bound. [23607]


Aristotle's Complete Master-Piece as presented here contains "The Secrets of Nature Displayed" and relates descriptions of the sexual organs of man and woman, a primer on conception, pre-requisites, and advice regarding the act itself, how the woman knows if she has conceived, how to determine the sex of the child, later how the woman should conduct herself in order to conceive (healthy practices), issues with lack of conception ("Of the cure of Barrenness"), etc. Further how the woman should conduct herself once pregnanct, midwife advice, care during pregnancy, and the how of birthing. Another chapter is devoted to difficult labour, birth of a dead child, and the woman after delivery. The following chapter is the only illustrated chapter, and includes "false Conception ; and of Monsters and monstrouth Births, with the reason thereof" with four illustrations of malformed births including extra limbs and several variations on Siamese or conjoined twins. Other topics like how to detect a virgin are sprinkled throughout. Part III of the treatise is on Physiognomy (estimating one's traits by the exteral appearances).

The Family Physician contains ten pages of recipes (supposedly from Hippocrates if one is to believe the Introduction). "The Last Legacy" appears to be a later condensation of "His Complete Masterpiece" with more suscinct advice, but also some practical advice like how to increase breast milk.

Whether this text is traceable to Aristotle or his school, it is an intriguing read, with practical ideas both right and wrong. This edition scarce in the trade and in institutions. 1 copy in OCLC (18672421) at UNIV OF TEXAS AT EL PASO as of 10/2014.

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