The English Physitian, Nicholas Culpeper, 1652.

Nicholas Culpeper’s 1652 book, The English Physitian, or the not-oft used, much longer subtitle, An astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation. Being a compleat method of Physick, whereby a man may preserve his Body in Health; or cure himself, being sick, for three pence charge, with such things only as grow in England, they being most fit for English Bodies, is 17th century herbal. Reprinted many times over since its first publication (UCLA’s library system alone holds over 67 editions of the book published between 1652 and 2007), The English Physitianis a book that held its sway with details and descriptions of the curative benefits of English herbs. The book is additionally recognized for its astrological bent on the properties of plants (it’s common knowledge that garlic and onion are herbs under Mars, right?) and its descriptions on the proper methods of creating herbal syrups and ointments.

Culpeper himself ruffled the feathers of established apothecaries and English physicians throughout Britain. While he did attend Cambridge, he dropped out of seminary school to study medicine and was decidedly not a member of the Society of Apothecaries or the College of Physicians. After several apprenticeships, he opened his own unofficial apothecary where he reportedly saw upwards of 40 patients a day. He was enlisted to translate medical texts, such the A Physical Directory, or a Translation of the London Directory (1649). Additionally, Culpeper published the Directory for Midwives, at a time when Culpeper and Peter Chamberlen, a former member of the College of Physicians, were arguing for the inclusion of female midwives to the Royal College.

The English Physitian as a printed book, is designed with the user in mind, making it more of a manual of sorts. It’s neatly laid out, each herb listed alphabetically throughout the main body of the text. The extensive marginalia lists what ailments each herb affects, useful for quick skimming if one is trying to find what herb helps with “bloody flux.” If one can’t find an ailment in the marginalia, Culpeper has an extensive index in the back, “An Alphabetical Catalogue of the Diseases Specified in this Treatise; Together with the Page where to find the Cure.” If one does not know how to prepare the cure, he has a “Directions” chapter with two sections on various methods of drying, curing, and keeping concoctions. Culpeper sold the book for just 3 pence, keeping the price affordable for the general public.

This first edition in particular has seen use (see Figure 1); a stained and torn cover adorns this particular copy. Handwritten notes can be found on the end papers at both the beginning and end, indicating a previous owner had written down their own herbal remedies, perhaps for future reference. One remedy is for “the eyes that are pained” and suggest using daisies, ground ivy, and sugar “dissolved therein and dropped into the eyes.” The cover of the book has several splotches where liquid has stained the leather, perhaps suggesting it was kept in a place where remedies were being prepared. This book was likely not a book kept in the library or study, but rather in the kitchen for quick recipe reference.

In Elizabeth Eisenstein’s essay, “Defining the Initial Shift,” they mention that early “vernacular manuals” were often books containing “impractical, even injurious, advice.” Indeed not every remedy listed in The English Physitian is medically sound and what was the benefit of printing herbals if medical professionals were already enacting these practices? Yet, the book enjoyed popularity abroad, Culpeper’s book journeyed to the New World, a space not dominated by members of the Royal College of Physicians. While it is difficult to assess the true extent of Culpeper’s popularity in colonial America, there does exist an American edition, printed in 1824 by James Scammon that introduced 300 additional recipes derived from American herbs. This book, despite its determined attitude to link star signs to herbal characteristics, remained a helpful manual for those without access to regular physicians or thick medical manuals. While not a perfect guide, The English Physitian is an invaluable look at 17th century medical knowledge as told by and for the public, an increasingly literate public with increasing access to knowledge.

References

Ashworth Jr., William B, “Scientist of the Day - Nicholas Culpeper” Scientist of the Day, Linda Hall Library, 18 Oct. 2019, https://www.lindahall.org/nicholas-culpeper/

Culpeper, Nicholas. “Culpepper's Family physician: The English physician enlarged: containing 300 medicines, made of American herbs,” James Scammon; Exeter, New Hampshire, 1824. http://www.popularmedicine.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Images/PM_72353_O/6#Chapters

Eisenstein, Elizabeth. “Defining the Initial Shift. In The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, pg 13-45. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511819230.005

Eschner, Kat, “How Nicholas Culpeper Brought Medicine to the People.” The Smithsonian Magazine, TheSmithsonianMag.com, 18 Oct. 2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-nicholas-culpeper-brought-medicine-people-180965291/

McCarl, Mary Rhinelander, “Publishing the Works of Nicholas Culpeper, Astrological Herbalist and Translator of Latin Medical Works in Seventeenth-Century London.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History, Volume 13, Issue 2, Fall 1996, pp. 225-276. https://utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/cbmh.13.2.225

Thulesius, Olav, “Nicholas Culpeper: English Physician and Astrologer,” St. Martin’s Press: New York, NY, 1992.

For documentation on this project, personnel, technical information, see Documentation. For contact email: drucker AT gseis.ucla.edu.