Hydrology.- De bonis (Giovanni Battista)

Hydroposia seu de potu aquae in morbis libri IV, FIRST EDITION, title in black and red with engraved vignette featuring putti with scientific instruments, woodcut initials, floral head- and tailpieces, occasional spotting, unidentified bookplate, contemporary marbled calf with gilt tooled floral border, central and corner strapwork decorative pieces, title to spine, a.e.g., pastedown made of period pattern paper, a little wormholed, spine and boards corners slightly rubbed, 4to, Pietro Bassalea, Venice, 1754.

*** Scarce medical edition in 4 parts, with only 7 copies recorded worldwide. The work in exametres is dedicated to Charles III of Bourbon and the notes talk about Vesuvius, Portici, Resina, Rocca di Montragone, Pozzuoli, Pizzofalcone, Chiaja etc. It concerns the impact of hydration status on human health, especially in the case of disease. In the first book the author examines the best waters, which he identified in the spring waters. In the second book he analysed the ideal characteristics of the water used not only for drinks but also for baths and hydrotherapy purposes. In the third and fourth books he formulated interpretations of the mechanization of water therapies in many different diseases and suggested methods of administration for use in medical practice.