Johannes De Ketham: Fasciculus Medicinae

The Fasciculus Medicinae is not only one of the earliest printed medical books, but furthermore features 10 remarkable woodcuts that give an insight into body concepts and medical practice in the late Middle Ages. The full-page illustrations depict anatomical representations of human bodies, the treatment of the sick, as well as carers. They complement a collection of medical treatises by famous medieval physicians, who are also depicted as authors and teachers, writing on topics such as surgery, anatomy, childhood diseases, but also the plague. This compilation of texts was first published in 1491 by Johannes de Ketham (c. 1415–1470), a physician practicing in Vienna and later a professor of medicine, in order to make the collected medical knowledge available to a wider professional audience. The Latin work quickly became a veritable bestseller among physicians, leading to translations into Italian and Spanish within a few years and motivating numerous new editions. The second Latin edition of 1495 is also distinguished by the addition of a surgical treatise and more naturalistic woodcuts.