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17th century medical guide discovered in an attic
Daily Mail ^ | March 4th, 2009 | unattributed

Posted on 03/25/2009 6:29:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

A handwritten book containing bizarre 17th century medical remedies including pike bones and dragon's blood is to go under the hammer tomorrow after spending more than 100 years buried in an attic. Written on fragile parchment bound between two pieces of thin card, the manuscript includes medical formulas as well as a variety of traditional recipes. Outlandish natural ingredients include ragwort, nightshade, venis turpentine, ferne roots, hoggs grease and the bizarrely-named 'earbagrace', which is probably Ambergris, a substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales... The 64-page book is expected to fetch around £400 when it's auctioned at Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, tomorrow. It was discovered buried under papers more than 25 years ago by Philippa Mulley, who was clearing out her deceased aunt's house in Norfolk... The fascinating compilation is inscribed with the name Thomas Slapp, 1784, but whether or not he is the original author remains a mystery. Experts believe the book was complied in either the 17th or early 18th century and has passed through at least three generations of the Mulley family... Bonhams specialist Oliver Miller said the book was probably penned by one of Mrs Mulley's ancestors and provided an intriguing glimpse of traditional home remedies. He said: 'It's a really nicely handwritten book of about 100 recipes. It's full of spelling mistakes and bad grammar but presents a fascination insight into 17th and 18th century quack medicine.'

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs
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To: Radl

Public schooling. LOL


21 posted on 03/26/2009 6:30:14 AM PDT by MaxMax (RINO=RAT!)
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To: MaxMax

I was going to type “Congratulations! Out of the 350,502 people who read my comment you were the only one who realized I was serious. The prize of a bottle of lizard urine is in the mail.”


22 posted on 03/26/2009 6:37:33 AM PDT by Radl (rtr)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
Are you serious? Where would you even buy it?

I have some I'll sell you but be warned, it's really REALLY expensive.

23 posted on 03/26/2009 6:38:16 AM PDT by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Radl
“Congratulations! Out of the 350,502 people who read my
comment you were the only one who realized I was serious.



24 posted on 03/26/2009 6:48:09 AM PDT by MaxMax (RINO=RAT!)
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To: SunkenCiv

...Thanks fer the laugh. Good on yer...


25 posted on 03/26/2009 6:52:58 AM PDT by gargoyle (...Lincoln abolished slavery, Obama wants it back, for most of us...)
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To: SunkenCiv
and the bizarrely-named 'earbagrace', which is probably Ambergris

The house genius at my back says no, "earbagrace" is another name for rue.

26 posted on 03/26/2009 7:47:36 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (American Revolution II -- overdue.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Under a future Obama national health care system, this 17th medical book may again become “state of the art.”


27 posted on 03/26/2009 8:54:17 AM PDT by Towed_Jumper (Stephen Hopkins: Founding Father who had Cerebral Palsy.."My hand trembles, my heart does not.")
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

Oh, rue. That clears things up.


28 posted on 03/26/2009 9:02:37 AM PDT by I Buried My Guns (I just hope CW2 comes before my creaky knees give out completely!)
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To: I Buried My Guns

Yep. Earbagrace = herb of grace = rue.


29 posted on 03/26/2009 2:26:36 PM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (American Revolution II -- overdue.)
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To: baltodog

:’D The classics never wear out.


30 posted on 03/26/2009 3:41:30 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: aruanan

And vice versa. ;’)


31 posted on 03/26/2009 3:41:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

According to the first comment at the original article, “Dragon’s Blood is a plant resin.” :’)


32 posted on 03/26/2009 3:42:12 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

I always love these modern day geniuses who catagorize some ancient tome as being full of “bad grammar and spelling mistakes”. Don’t the realize that grammar and spelling have changed over the ages?


33 posted on 03/27/2009 10:06:53 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

:’)


34 posted on 03/27/2009 2:14:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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