Monthly Archives: October 2024

The Pioneering Impact of Sweynheym and Pannartz

  Sweynheym and Pannartz were groundbreaking figures in the history of printing, credited with establishing one of the first printing presses in Italy. Active in the 1460s, these two German printers, Johann Sweynheym and Wolfgang Pannartz, moved to Subiaco, near Rome, where they laid the foundations for the Italian printing industry. Their innovative work marked […]

A recent discovery: Czech recipe for kidney stones from C15th

A recipe from the C15th was recently discovered in an incunable edition of Simon de Cassia. The recipe, written in early Czech references a fascinating recipe for treating kidney stones that includes ingredients like burnet-saxifrage, rose hips, and wild carrots. These plants, known for their diuretic properties, were commonly used to aid in flushing out […]

Exploring the Life of Richard Hamersley: Barber Surgeon of Walsall

Richard Hamersley was a notable figure in Walsall, Staffordshire, during the early 18th century, serving as both a barber and a surgeon. This dual profession was common at the time, as barber surgeons were responsible not only for haircuts and shaves but also for a range of medical procedures, from bloodletting to surgical operations. Hamersley’s […]