JOHANNES CHRISTOSTOMUS MAGNENUS (c. 1590 - c. 1679)

Io: Chrysostomi Magneni Burgundi Luxoviensi patricii, philosophi, medici et in celeberrima Ticinensi universitate regii medicinae professoris Exercitationes de Tabaco. No place, no printer, 1658 Bound with: Io: Chrysostomi Magneni ... De Manna No place, no printer, 1658

§ 2 works in 1 volume, 12mo (140 x 80); [24], 222, [2] pp. (last blank); [20], 100 pp. (*1-2, A-I1-12, K1-4 - K4 blank; *1-10, A-D1-12, E1-2). 1 woodcut schematic illustration. Contemporary vellum, handwritten title on spine. Some browning in places, otherwise a good copy.

Second edition of both works, previously published in 1648. Magnenus, a French physician, was professor of medicine and, later, of philosophy at the university of Pavia. In 1660 he accompanied to Paris the count of Fuensaldagne, ambassador to the French court, as his personal physician. Magnenus is best remembered for his work aimed to rediscover the Democritean theory of atomism; his ideas, however, were quite distinct from Democritus’ and he advanced eight fundamental proposition for the existence of atoms, based on mathematical as well as chemical and other experimental considerations. The present publication includes the other two works written by Magnus, dealing with tobacco and manna. In the first one the author describes the tobacco plant, its history and origin, cultivation and medical application; he prescribed tobacco syrup as a standard remedy for his patients. In the second work the manna is described: its origin, formation, the different kind, the opinion of ancient authors and its use are described.
Ref:Martin Fichman Magnenus, Johann Chrysostom In: https://www.encyclopedia.com