Santorelli, Antonio (1581-1653) & Gratia, Aloisius de

In universam medicinam. Written in a somewhat difficult upright script. It is in three sections: (1) De praestantia Medicinae [etc.] (38 ll.). (2) Pars prima physiologica medicinae. Disputatio prima de humani corporis principiis (11. 39-156). (3) Disputatio secunda Anatomica, sive de continentibus humani corporis partibus (1. 157-end). By comparison with MS. 4358 this MS. contains the first part of a course of lectures on general medicine by Santorelli and Gratia at Naples University. The first leaf contains a holograph certificate signed by a physician 'Josephus Mancinus, Doctor Philosophus [1635-1701]' stating that the Reverend Doctor Stephanus Mansus is suffering 'morbo epileptico humore causanti melancolico'. This writing is undated, but seems to be of the late 17th century, and it is tentatively suggested that Stephanus Mansus may have been the original scribe, or owner, of this MS. Below this in an 18th century hand 'De Ph. Fidelis Manzi'. On the verso of the last leaf is an inscription by the same hand 'Rev. D. Indicus Mancini. The date of this MS. may be approximately given by the reference on fol. 137v to the work on the Magnet by Athanasius Kircher [1602-1680]. This was first published in Rome in 1641, a second edition at Cologne in 1643, and a third enlarged edition also at Rome in 1654. Produced in Naples.

c. 1655

1 volume 287 ff. (last 5 bl.). 4to. 211/2 × 15 cm. Original vellum binding, defective. Five leaves at the beginning, and some leaves between the sections have been cut out. The inner upper corners of the last 50 ll. have been affected by damp, with slight loss of text in the last 36. On the verso of the last leaf of 'Pars prima physiologica Disputatio prima', a modern hand has written in pencil 'the missing leaves here were blank'. A foliation in pencil has been added.

Purchased 1931.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).