The English physician enlarged with three hundred and sixty-nine medicines, made of English herbs, that were not in any impression until this

London: Printed for the bookseller, 1785. later edition. Contemporary calf, worn and rubbed, morocco spine label; interior very good. Gift inscription dated Sept 12, 1900 on the first blank. Culpeper first published The English physitian, or An astrologo-physical discourse on the vulgar herbs of the nation in 1652, and followed it up with his Complete herbal the next year. The books were combined and issued in over forty editions since that time. Although a later edition, Culpeper’s theory of the relationship between astrology and herbs and physical health can be seen as a masterpiece of clever scholarship. The planet associated with each herb is used symbolically to derive its medicinal use. In order to gain knowledge of the herb, one is expected to contemplate the symbolic associations of each planet - parts of the body, humoral correspondence, temperature, etc - in relation to the listed indications to see how the herb can be used.

One of the most influential writers in the history of herbalism, Culpeper (1616-1654) popularized astrological herbalism. He was a Puritan and Parliamentarian at a time when most of the College of Surgeons were Anglican Royalists. This in part accounts for his rejection by the College, and it might also explain his tremendous popularity with New England Puritans. He had a successful practice and gave much free advice to the poor, but he was very unpopular with the orthodox medical practitioners. Hard work and his extensive literary activities, worries about a family of seven children, and a case of consumption, brought on is early death at the age of 38.

Wellcome II, p. 415.