[Boerhaave] Swieten, G. van (ed.). Commentaria in Hermanni Boerhaave Aphorismos

de Cognoscendis et Curandis Morbis. Tomus primus [- quintus] (at the end of vol. V: Libellus de Materie Medica et remediorum formulis, preface dated February 11, 1719. ) and (rare) supplement to vol. 5, Leiden, J. and H. Verbeek, 1742-1776. W. engr. frontisp. (Boerhaave's grave in the Pieterskerk at Leiden), cont. mottled calf (unif. apart from the supplement), gilt and ribbed spine w. contrast. mor. letterpieces, 4to. All vols. top of spine worn, some hinges splitting, a few vols. outer corners showing/ bumped. Lacks the portrait, occas. other sm. internal and external imperfections. A good set.

First edition of the best known commentary on Boerhaave and the standard medical textbook, with the rare supplement by J.A. Gladbach, which is almost invariably lacking. Lindeboom, Bibl. Boerhaaviana, 1931-4, item 209. For the Libellus de Materie Medica cf. Lindeboom item 284 - 292. Gerard van Swieten (1700 - 1772), who later became Maria Theresia's family doctor, had followed Boerhaave's lectures for 20 years, writing them down in his own form of shorthand (deciphered by Van Leersum) and considered it his life work as a medical writer to comment on Boerhaave's aphorisms. Boerhaave was forced to edit a collection of prescriptions referring to his teachings in the aphorisms, after one of his English pupils had them printed without his consent. In the preface to the genuine edition of his "Libellus", dated February 1, 1719, he explains how he purposely omitted every recommendation to drugs in his Aphorisms fearing indiscriminate use that would cause harm to many patients by disregarding the individual variations of condition.