Porta, Giovanni Battista, 1539(?)-1615, a distinguished Napolitan nobleman. Of his remarkable works we have before us—De distillatione, lib. ix. Romæ 1608, 154 pp. It is partly contained also in Porta’s Magiæ naturalis libri xx, 1589, yet not in the earlier editions of the Magia, the first of which appeared in 1558. Another work of the same author, the Phytognomica, Naples, 1583, may be mentioned as one of the chief works treating on the “Doctrine of Signatures.” There are several editions of it, usually containing the curious figures of the tubers of orchids as especially connected with that superstitious doctrine.
See pages [118]. [263]. [385]. [479]. [526]. [580]. [653]. [655].
Præpositus, Nicolaus, one of the eminent physicians of the school of Salerno (see S.) living in the first half of the 12th century. He gives in his Antidotarium, first edition, Venetiis 1471, the composition of about 150 medicines, which were much used, under his name, during the following centuries. They are enumerated in Choulant’s book, mentioned [p. 751 before].
Pun-tsao, a great Chinese herbal, written by Le-she-chin, in the middle of the 16th century. It consists of 40 thin octavo volumes, the first three of which contain about 1,100 woodcuts. For more exact information consult Hanbury, Science Papers, 212 et seq.
See pages [4]. [76]. [83]. [167]. [510]. [520].
Ramusio, Giovanni Battista.—Terza editione delle navigationi e viaggi raccolti già da G. B. Ramusio, 3 vol. fol. Venetia, 1554. A valuable collection of accounts of mediæval travellers, chiefly Italian.
See page [4].
Ray (Wray, or Rajus) John, 1628-1705, a clergyman and distinguished botanist. His Herbarium is preserved in the British Museum. Historia plantarum, 3 vols., folio, London, 1686-1704.
See pages [254]. [277]. [481]. [482]. [615]. [731]. [740].
Redi, Francesco, a physician of Arezzo, who lived at Florence. Esperienze intorno a diverse cose naturali e particularmente a quelle che ci son portate dell’ India. Firenze, 1671.