Lot 371
Medical--La Tourette, Joseph Charles Gilles de
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 5 September 2007 at 12:00 BST
Description
L'hygienne moderne ou l'art de vivre en santé et de prolonger la vie, manuscript in 2 volumes, c.600 pages, [Loudon, late eighteenth century], 4to, in two hands, one possibly Tourette's hand, the second apparently that of Prieur, his co-author, with revisions and corrections, sometimes on intercalated pages, two frontispieces in ink and wash by Chenu, red half roan, marbled boards
Footnote
Note: Tourette practised as a surgeon in Paris before moving to Loudun and specialisng in obstetrics. He published a treatise on obstetrics in Angers in 1787. The present manuscript appears to be unpublished and may be partly autograph. According to a note inserted at the front of the second volume, the author had been granted a privilege for publishing the work in February 1787, but he apparently did not do so at that time as corrections were still being made to the text in 1789 and afterwards. The title-page to the first volume was clearly intended for publication, including the place of publication, but without a date ("Loudon, dans le cabinet de l'auteur").
This enclyclopedic treatise covers all aspects of healthy living from atmosphere and environment to diet and nutrition, the abuse of alcholol, preventive medicine, sleep, excretion and sex. The author quotes from such authors as Rousseau, Franklin, Parmentier and travel writers.