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Herbario Nuovo di Castore Durante medico, & cittadino romano, con Figure, che rappresentano le vive piante, che nascono in tutta Europa, & nell' Indie Orientali, & Occidentali, con versi latini, che comprendono le facoltà de i semplici medicamenti, e con

Pharmacology Herbals

Castore Durante dedicated 20 years to the compilation of the Herbario Novo. The 874 images of plants, followed by descriptions, are presented in the classical alphabetical order and are always accompanied by some Latin verses, which Agnes Arber, in her unsurpassed Herbals, has defined as "pleasantly ascientific." But they should also be considered as introducing a clear and precise presentation, with the "names" in their original language (Greek, Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French, German and Indian), the "forms," which are graced with precise details, as well as interesting continual references to scent and fragrance. Place ("loco") of origin and "qualities and virtues" complete the picture. Indicated for each herb is the internal use ("di dentro"), through extracts and infusions to be ingested, and the external use ("di fuori,"), when a poultice is used. The description of the virtues of the plants is sometimes innovative and curious. Speaking of cannabis, he maintains that "the hemp seed can be eaten like a legume, but it offends the stomach and the genital seed." Periwinkle should be prescribed to those who suffer from nerves: "The water drawn at the end of June consolidates wounds by astringing them quite well" it also helps in nervous defects greatly" And of the ever-magic mandrake he states convincingly: "conciliat somnum, sedat pariterque dolores."

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