The Extant Works of Aretaeus, The Cappadocian
London: The Sydenham Society, 1856. First edition.
This 1856 Sydenham Society edition presents the complete surviving works of Aretaeus of Cappadocia, one of the most important medical writers of the Greco-Roman world. Edited and translated by the renowned classical physician Francis Adams, the text provides both Greek originals and English translations, offering invaluable insight into ancient clinical practice. The treatises cover the entire scope of Aretaeus’ surviving writings, including Causes and Symptoms of Acute Diseases, Causes and Symptoms of Chronic Diseases, and detailed case discussions on afflictions such as epilepsy, apoplexy, lethargy, tetanus, pleurisy, and numerous other systemic disorders. Adams’ scholarly commentary and notes appear throughout, giving historical context, variant readings, and comparisons with other classical medical sources.
Further sections explore diagnostic signs, therapeutic approaches, and philosophical reflections on disease, crafted in Aretaeus’ famously clear and observational style. The Greek text is cleanly typeset opposite the English translation, providing a dual-language resource for medical historians and classical scholars alike. Notable chapters include discussions on consumption, dropsey (edema), mania, satyriaisis, uvular affections, and numerous specific conditions treated in antiquity. This edition remains one of the most reliable 19th-century printings of Aretaeus and an important milestone for the modern study of Greco-Roman medicine.
Condition & Binding: Bound in original Sydenham Society blue cloth, featuring the Society’s gilt armorial device on the upper board and blind-decorated borders. The binding shows heavy wear, including fraying at spine ends, rubbing along edges, chipping at the spine head and foot, and wear to corners. Spine gilt is faded and worn. Hinges show some cracking and repairs, with old tape-residue visible inside the front board. Internal library stamps from The Medical Society, City & County of Denver appear on title page and front endpapers, along with an ownership inscription dated Aug. 11, 1856 (“John C. Green”). Text block is clean and bright overall with minimal foxing; pages remain well-preserved, the Greek and English typography still crisp. Overall-fair. Item #781
Price: $145.00