Q. D. B. V. dissertation inauguralis medica De cardamomis, quam rectore magnificentissimo, serenissimo principe ac domino, domino Gvilielmo Henrico, dvce saxoniae, ivliaci, cliviae ac montivm, angariae et westphaliae &c. Ex decreto illustres & gratiotissima facvltatis medicae in florentissima academia jenensi, Praeside Rvdolfo Gvilielmo Cravsio.Jena, Christoph Krebs, [dissertation defended 7 August 1704]. 8vo. With an engraved frontispiece illustrating the cardamon plant, a woodcut headpiece and tailpiece. Recent decorated paper wrapper.

[8], 44 pp. including the frontispiece.Rare first and only edition of a Latin doctoral dissertation for the University of Jena on the medical use of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). The author (Rhein working under his professor Krause) describes the countries of origin, horticultural care of the plant, harvest and the medical procedures to turn cardamom into a pharmaceutical remedy in the Middle East, the Arabian peninsula and India. It identifies first and foremost the neurological uses of cardamom, and presents a number of recipes and methods involving cardamom in the treatment of epilepsy and memory loss. It also elaborates on the possibility to use the plant to treat paralysis. It further stipulates that the herb has a positive effect on guttural functions and the digestive system in case of constipation and flatulence. The specific smell of cardamom, it concludes, can have an aphrodisiac effect on patients as well.With water stains in a few leaves (including the frontispiece), but otherwise in very good condition.l VD18 14934760.