Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

distinction between herbals, dispensatories and pharmacopoeias becomes rather
blurred. Sometimes words in other languages are translated as ‘Pharmacopoeia’,
i.e. kitab. The end of the century saw the arrival of syphilis and its various treatments
would occupy both physicians and surgeons, and trouble patients until the twentieth
century.
Chapter 4. 16 th Century
The Renaissance. The introduction of syphilis into Europe sets off a vain
search for a cure.
1500-1502 Several writers, Pedro Pinctor 51 , Marinarus Brocardus 52 and
Juan Almenar 53 warned of the dangers of stomatitis from the use
of mercury (Abramowitz, 1934).
1503 Joseph Grünpeck (1470–1531), who suffered greatly from the
adverse effects of mercury, wrote ‘De la mentulagre 54 ou de mal
Français’ [Treatment of the pestilent syphilis or the French disease
containing its origins and its treatment] and ‘Tractus de Pestilentiali
Scorra 55 sive Mala de Franzos: originem Remediaque Eiusdem
Continens’ [An essay on dangerous flux or the French disease:
containing the origins and remedies for the same] Nuremberg:
Kaspar Hochfeder, 1496 (Translated by Dr A Corlieu, Published by G
Masson, 1884).
c1504 A book appeared in Paris, entitled, the ‘Grand Herbier’, which carried
the first mention of belladonna, although the term ‘Solatrum minus’
[Lesser deadly nightshade] used by Saladinus 56 about 1450, is
presumed to refer to it. ‘Le Grand Herbier en Francoys: Contenant
les Qualitez, Vertus & Proprietez des Herbes, Arbres, Gommes &
Semences, [The Great Herbal in French containing the qualities,
vertues and properties of herbs, gums and seeds]: Extract of several
51 Pedro Pinctor = (1423-1503)physician to Pope Alexander VII from Valencia. Wrote ‘De Morbo faedo et
occulto bis temporibus affligente’ in 1500.
52 Marinus Brocardus = wrote ‘Dissertatio de Morbo Gallico’. Lived in Venice 1516-1567.
53 Juan Almenar = physician to Pope Alexander VII from Valencia.Wrote treatise on the Morbo Gallico in 1502
54 Mentulagre = maladie du membre viril = diseases of the penis
55 Scorra = syphilis
56 Saladinus = Saladinus Asculanus author of ‘Compendium aromatariorum’. Bonon, 1488. Flourished 1441-
1463 in Ascoli, Italy. Also known as Ferro Saladino