124. Weszprémi István (transl.): Bába mesterségre tanitó könyv...

... Mellyet Krantz Henrik Nepomuk János… irt… Mostan pedig Magyar Nyelvre forditott ~
Debretzenben, 1766. Margitai István. (6)+169+(1)p.+9 folding pls.
The first Hungarian-language manual of midwifery. Krantz was the first professor of obstetrics at the University of Vienna. His work first appeared in 1756 and served as an official textbook for nearly two decades. Its usefulness and popularity are attested not only by several subsequent editions but also by translations into Italian and French in addition to Hungarian. Gerard van Swieten, founder of the First Viennese Medical School, personally encouraged Weszprémi István to prepare the Hungarian translation and even secured the author’s consent for its rapid publication. News of the appearance of the volume – together with a presentation copy – reached Maria Theresia through van Swieten, who rewarded Weszprémi with a distinguished decoration in recognition of his work. The original edition, issued without illustrations, was supplemented by Weszprémi with plates derived from the works of Lorenz Heister and Hendrich von Deventer. The first two depict the female pelvis, five show various positions of the embryo, while the remaining two demonstrate the proper conduct of the midwife during difficult deliveries. The volume was further expanded by a short appendix concerning “The Duties and Obligations of Midwives”. The translator, physician and polymath, was among the most learned Hungarian scholars of the century. In a work published in London in 1755, he was among the first in the world to advocate inoculation against plague. His principal work was the collection of Hungarian medical biographies entitled “Succinta Medicorum...”.
Contemporary half leather. Spine gilt, slightly worn. Some leaves restored.
Győry: p. 119.                              
 
Starting price: 300 000 Ft