CACHET (Christophe) - Controversiae theoricae practicae, in - Lot 123

CACHET (Christophe) - Controversiae theoricae practicae, in primam aphorimorum hippocratis. Tulli (Toul), Apud Sebastianum Philippi, 1612; in-12, XXX nch + 802 pp, bound in full contemporary vellum, smooth spine, edges speckled, defects in use. Latin edition of a medical thesis in 5 chapters, followed by aphorisms of Hippocrates printed in Greek and commented by the author. Christophe Cachet (1572-1624) came from Mirecourt (or Neufchâteau, according to other sources) in the Vosges. He studied medicine in Padua, Italy, then law in Fribourg, Switzerland. He was briefly physician to Duke Charles III (1603), who ennobled him and took him on as an advisor. He was also advisor to Duke Henri II. Henri II, a fervent supporter of alchemy, did not hold him responsible for taking a firm stance against alchemists in a work published in 1617 entitled Apologia dogmatica in hermetici cujusd'am Anonymi scriptum de curatione calculi... He also became advisor to Francis II and Charles IV. He published several works: one was entitled Vray et asseuré préservatif de petite vérole et rougeole, the other a Traité de médecine published in 1622 in Nancy by Charlot. He was strongly opposed to all forms of quackery. Along with other physicians of the period, he examined Elisabeth de Ranfaing, who he was convinced was possessed by the devil: "He entrusted the defendant to the exorcists without a second thought". He had other strings to his bow. He published a collection of Latin verses and another of equestrian epigrams, accounts of his travels. He died in 1624. Beaupré 283, Noel 5615. Consultant: Mr. Philippe HENRY