Hippocrates to Harrison : Helvetius
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Infection and Immunity

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Helvétius, Jean-Adrien, 1662-1727
Remèdes contre la peste
A Paris : Chez Pierre-Aug. Le Mercier, 1721.
2nd edition

Image from Helvetius

Publication of Remèdes Contre la Peste was related to fears that plague would spread from Marseilles to northern Europe in 1720. Helvétius had reaped fame and fortune by speculation in the market for ipecacuanha, a Brazilian herbal extract which he formulated into a propriety remedy for dysentery. After a clinical trial at the Hôtel Dieu in Paris the secret was purchased by the King of France in 1688 for the vast sum of one thousand Louis d'or (approximately A$290,000). In this book Helvétius describes the potential virtues of ipecacuanha as well as elixir of gold and other remedies for plague.

Deane Collection
RB 3721.6 Deane