Facets

1563

#1815

Colóquios dos simples, e drogas he cousas mediçinais da Índia e assi dalgũas frutas achadas nella onde se tratam algũas cousas tocantes a medicina, pratica, e outras cousas boas pera saber.

The first account of Indian materia medica and the first textbook on tropical medicine written by a European. It includes a classic account of Asiatic cholera, the first account of this disease by a European. This is …

1578

#1819

Tractado de las drogas, y medicinas de las Indias Orientales, con sus plantas debuxadas al bivo.

This is mainly a translation of Garcia d’Orta’s Coloquios (No. 1815) with the addition of some illustrations. Acosta, a Portuguese Jesuit physician and surgeon, travelled to India where he met Garcia d’Orta. Acosta pi…

1656

#8591

Flora sinensis, fructus floresque humillime porrigens serenissimo et potentissimo Leopoldo Ignatio, Hungariae regi florentissimo, &c. Fructus saecul promittenti Augustissimos.

The first description published in Europe of an ecosystem of the Far East, including animals as well as plants, with particular attention to Chinese fruit bearing plants, and medicinal properties of Chinese plants. Di…

1658

#1825

De Indiae utriusque re naturali et medica libri quatuordecim.

This is an extensively revised and enlarged second edition of Piso’s Historia naturalis Brasiliae (1648). In this edition Piso reprinted Bontius's De medicina Indorum (1642) with two additional books on Asian flora an…

1677

#10648

Laboratorium chymicum, gehouden op het voortreffelycke Eylandt Ceylon, soo in't Animalische, Vegetabilische, als Mineralische Ryck.

The first book on the animal, vegetable and mineral medicines indigenous to Sri Lanka. Grim was a physician in the service of the VOC (the East India Company). Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1678 –1703

#9543

Hortus Indicus Malabaricus: Continens regni Malabarici apud Indos cereberrimi onmis generis plantas rariores, Latinas, Malabaricis, Arabicis, Brachmanum charactareibus hominibusque expressas ....12 vols.

The earliest comprehensive printed work on the flora of Asia and the tropics in 12 folio volumes written and published under the supervision of van Rheede tot Drakenstein, a colonial administrator of the Dutch East In…

1712

#6374.11

Amoentitatum exoticarum politico-physico-medicarum fasciculi V.

Kaempfer’s illustrated accounts of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion are among the best of the 17th century. They appeared for the first time in the above work and were translated into English in his The History of…

1717

#11473

Musaeum Zeylanicum, sive catalogus plantarum, in Zeylan sponte nascentium, observatarum & descriptarum a viaro celeberrimo Paulo Hermanno.

Paul Hermann's study of the plants of Sri Lanka collected during his experience as a Ship's Medical Oficer in the Dutch East India Company after Hermann completed his medical studies at Padua. This work was edited for…

1737

#13263

Thesaurus Zeylanicus exhibens plantas in Insula Zeylana nascentes; Inter quas plurimae novae species, & genera inveniuntur. Omnia Iconibus illustrata, ac descripta.

The first illustrated flora of Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon). Burman, a Dutch physician, was a friend and correspondent of Linnaeus and professor of botany. "Indeed, Linnaeus, as a guest at the Burman house, had a ha…

1741 –1750

#6837

Het Amboinsche Kruidboek . . . Herbarium Amboinense . . . nunc primum in lucem edidit & in Latinum semonem vertit Joannes Burmannus. 6 vols.

Het Amboinsche kruidboek or Herbarium Amboinense, a catalogue of the plants of Ambon in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, by Georg Eberhard Rumphius, a German-born soldier and botanist employed by the Dutch East India …

1776

#12477

Characteres generum plantarum, quas in itinere ad insulas maris Australis, collegerunt, descripserunt, delinearunt, annis 1772-1775.

This account of botanical discoveries made by the Forsters in Australia and New Zealand on Cook's second voyage was one of the earliest scientific publications resulting from that voyage. Specimens were illustrated on…

1781

#13004

Herbier ou collection des plantes médicinales de la Chine: D'après un manuscrit peint et unique qui se trouve dans la Bibliothèque de l'Empereur de la Chine, pour servir suitte [sic] à la collection des fleurs qui se cultivent dans les Jardins de la Chine et de l'Europe.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1790

#7366

Journal of a voyage to New South Wales with sixty five plates of non descript. animals, birds, lizards, serpents, curious cones of trees and other natural productions

This work described many Australian species for the first time. It includes natural history illustrations after watercolor paintings by Sarah Stone. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link

1791

#12825

Icones selectæ plantarum, quas in Japonia collegit et delineavit; Engelbertus Kaempfer; ex archetypis in Museo Britannico asservatis. Edited by Sir Joseph Banks.

Sir Joseph Banks was responsible for publishing most of Kaempfer's studies of Japanese plants, which had remained unpublished for more than 70 years. This work introduced many Japanese plants to Western botanists. Dig…

1793 –1795

#12951

A specimen of the botany of New Holland

The first published book on the flora of Australia, issued by Sowerby in four parts between 1793 and 1795. It included 16 hand-colored plates reproducing paintings by Sowerby, mostly based on sketches by John White, a…

1796

#310

An account of Indian serpents collected on the coast of Coromandel: containing descriptions and drawings of each species, together with experiments and remarks on their several poisons.

First attempt at a description of Indian serpents and serpent venoms. Includes the original description of Russell’s viper, Daboia russellii. Digital facsimile from the Linda Hall LIbrary at this link.

1798

#9082

An epitome of the natural history of the insects of China: Comprising figures and descriptions of upwards of one hundred new, singular, and beautiful species: together with some that are of importance in medicine, domestic economy, &c. The figures are accurately, drawn, engraved, and coloured, from speciemsn of the insects; the descriptions are arranged accordig to the system of Linnaeus, with references to the writings of Fabricius, and other systematic authors.

The first work in a Western language on the insects of China, including pharmaceutical aspects. For this work Donovan obtained specimens and information from George Macartney a British envoy to China. Includes 50 colo…

1813

#6975

Materia medica of Hindoostan, and artisan’s and agriculturist’s nomenclature.

The first book in English on the materia medica of India, and a pioneering work in the field of Indian medical history. Ainslie joined the British East India Company as an assistant surgeon in 1788 and spent the next …

1814

#10761

Hortus Bengalensis, or, a catalogue of the plants growing in the East India Company's Botanic Garden at Calcutta.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1818

#7369

Narrative of a journey in the interior of China, and of a voyage to and from that country, in the years 1816 and 1817; containing an account of the most interesting transactions of Lord Amherst's embassy to the court of Pekin and observations on the countries which it visited.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1820 –1824

#10762

Flora Indica; or descriptions of Indian plants by the late William Roxburgh. Edited by William Carey, to which are added descriptions of plants recently discovered by Nathaniel Wallich. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1826

#8523

Materia Indica; or, some account of those articles which are employed by the Hindoos and other eastern nations, in their medicine, arts, and agriculture; comprising also formulae, with practical observations, names of diseases in various eastern languages, and a copious list of oriental books immediately connected with general science. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1829

#9450

Praktische waarnemingen over eenige Javaansche geneesmiddelen, welke niet alleen vele uitheemsche medicamenten, die thans nog van Europa naar Java moeten worden overgezonden, kunnen vervangen, maar dezelve ook tegen eenige ziekten op het eiland Java heerschende, in werkzaamheid overtreffen.

An early account of Jamu (old spelling Djamu), the traditional medicine of Indonesia, especially Java. "It is a predominantly herbal medicine made from natural materials, such as parts of plants such as roots, bark, f…

1830 –1833

#1788

Liber fundamentorum pharmacologiae. Auctore Abu Mansur Mowafik ben Ali al Herui. Epitome codicis manuscripti persici Bibl. caes. reg. Vienn. inediti. Primus Latio donavit Romeo Seligmann. 2 vols.

The most important early Persian pharmacological work, first published in print in Latin translation. Muvaffak flourished in Herat (current Afghanistan), under the Samanid prince Mansur I ibn Nuh, who ruled from 961 t…

1833

#8208

The Taleef shereef, or Indian materia medica translated from the original by George Playfair, Superintending Surgeon, Bengal Service. Published by The Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1837

#8209

An essay on the antiquity of Hindoo medicine, including an introductory lecture to the course of materia medica and therapeutics, delivered at King's College.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1837

#11879

Flora de Filipinas. Según el sistema sexual de Linneo.

The first manual of Philippine botany published in the Philippines. The first two editions (1837 and 1845) were unillustrated. From 1877 to 1883 Celestine Fernandez Villar (1838-1907), together with others including A…

1843 –1859

#7448

The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H. M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the years 1839-1843.

Part 1: Flora of Lord Auckland and Campbell's Islands (1843-45); Part 2: Flora of Fuegia, the Falklands, Karguellen's land, etc. (1845-47); Part 3: Flora of New Zealand. 2 vols. (1851-53); Part 4: Flora of Tasmania. 2…

1844 –1850

#11

Suśrutas. Áyruvédas. Id est medicinae systema a venerabili d'hanvantare demonstratum a Suśruta discipulo compositum. Nunc primum ex Sanksríta in Latinum sermonem vertit, introductionem, annotationes et rerum indicem adjecit Dr. Franciscus Hessler. 3 vols.

First translation of the Suśruta Samhitā into Latin, and the first publication of this text in the West. Suśruta is said to have lived in the 6th or 5th centuries, BCE. The principal medical contribution of the ancien…

1844

#2077.1

Rambles and recollections of an Indian official. 2 vols.

Lathyrism, a disease occuring in India, and parts of Africa, was known to Hippocrates. Sleeman, an Indian official and major general who presided over the suppression of Thuggee, had no special knowledge of medicine, …

1845

#10760

Hortus suburbanus Calcuttensis. A catalog of the plants which were cultivated in the Hon. East India Company's Botanical Garden, Calcutta and in the Serampore Botanical Garden, known as Dr. Carey's Garden, from the beginning of both establishments (1786 and 1800) to the end of August 1841; drawn up according to the Jussieuan arrangement, and mostly in conformity with the second edition (1836) of Lindsay 's Natural System of Botany.

Catalogue of the thousands of plants which were cultivated in the East India Company’s Royal Botanical Garden in Shibpur (near Calcutta, founded in 1786) and ‘Dr. William Carey’s’ botanical garden in Serampore, Bengal…

1849 –1851

#13651

The rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya: Being an account, botanical and geographical, of the rhododendrons recently discovered in the mountains of eastern Himalaya, from drawings and descriptions made on the spot, during a government botanical mission to that country

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1851

#9515

Früchte aus dem Morgenlande oder Reise-Erlebnisse. Nebst naturhistorisch-medicinischen Erfahrungen, einigen hundert erprobten Arzneimitteln und einer neuen Heilart dem Medial-Systeme. Mit vierzig lithographirten Tafeln: Porträte, Pflanzenabbildungen, sonstige Natur- und Kunstprodukte, Facsimile, Landkarte und Ansicht der Citadelle von Lahor; endlich als Anhang ein medizinisches Wörterbuch in mehreren europäischen und orientalischen Sprachen.

Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. Translated into English (1852) as Thirty-five years in the East. Adventures, discoveries, experiments, and historical sketches, relating to the Pu…

1854

#7447

Himalayan journals; or, notes of a naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim and Nepal Himalayas, the Khasia Mountains, &c. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1855

#13733

Flora indica: Being a systematic account of the plants of British India, together with observations on the structure and affinities of their natural orders and genera. Vol. 1. Ranunculaceae to Fumariaceae, with an Introductory Essay. All published.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. The Introductory Essay was also published separately by W. Pamphlin in 1855 with the following title: Introductory essay to the Flora Indica: includin…

1859

#7446

On the flora of Australia, its origin, affinities, and distribution; being an introductory essay to the Flora of Tasmania. Offprint from The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H. M. Discovery Ships ‘Erebus’ and ‘Terror’, Vol. III (Flora Tasmaniae), part I (June, 1859).

The first important botanical work by a supporter of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Hooker, a botanist and plant geographer, had been a close friend of Darwin for many years, and was aware of Darwi…

1860

#8818

Remarks on the uses of some bazaar medicines, and on a few of the common indigenous plants of India, according to European practice.

At the time of publication of this work, which contained texts in both Sanskrit and English, Waring was "Physician to His Highness The Maha Rajah of Travancore." Digital facsimile of the 1860 edition from the Biodiver…

1861

#9171

Flora hongkonensis: A description of the flowering plants and ferns of the island of Hongkong.

The first comprehensive work on any part of the flora of China and Hong Kong. It included the first published description of Hong Kong Croton, or Croton hancei.

1863

#6492.2

La médecine chez les Chinois par Le capitaine P. Dabry. Ouvrage corrigé et précédé d’une préface par J. Léon Soubeiran.

The best account of Chinese medicine published in Europe during the 19th century, including translations from original Chinese medical texts. Dabry was French consul at Hang-Keou. Soubeiran, a pharmacist, edited his w…

1863 –1878

#9172

Flora Australiensis: A description of the plants of the Australian territory by George Bentham, assisted by Ferdinand Mueller. 7 vols.

The first comprehensive flora of any large continental area. It included descriptions of 8125 species. "Bentham prepared the flora from Kew; with Mueller, the first plant taxonomist residing permanently in Australia, …

1868

#8817

Pharmacopoeia of India, prepared under the authority of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India in Council

Waring was "Surgeon in Her Majesty's Indian Army." Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1872

#2105

The thanatophidia of India. Being a Description of the venomous snakes of the Indian Peninsula, with an account of the influence of their poison on life and a series of experiments

Considered the first systematic work on venomous snakes. Describes all the venomous snakes of India. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1874

#2032

Pharmacographia. A history of the principal drugs of vegetable origin met with in Great Britain and British India.

Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1874

#10127

La matière médicale chez les chinois.

Digital facsimile from BnFGallica at this link.

1877

#13781

Materia medica of the Hindus compiled from Sanskrit medical works. With a glossary of Indian plants.

1878 –1883

#7515

Les produits de la nature japonaise et chinoise: comprenant la dénomination, l'histoire et les applications aux arts, à l'industrie, à l'économie, à la médecine, etc. des substances qui dérivent des trois règnes de la nature et qui sont employées par les Japonais et les Chinois / Partie inorganique et minéralogique, contenant la description des minéraux et des substances qui dérivent du règne minéral.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1878

#9497

The poisonous snakes of India: For the use of the officials and others residing in the Indian Empire.

Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1879

#11954

Catalogue of the plants under cultivation in the botanical gardens, Singapore, Straits Settlements.

The first published catalogue of plants in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

1881

#13005

Early European researches into the flora of China.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1881

#13050

The plants an drugs of sind; being a systematic account, with descriptions, of the indigenous flora, and notices of the value and uses of their products in commerce, medicine and the arts.