Curiosa: Very Precious, Indeed

[nebroadwe]

Across my desk this morning: A Thousand Notable Things of Sundrie Sortes : Whereof Some are Wonderfull, Some Strange, Some Pleasant, Divers Necessary, a Great Sort Profitable, and Many Very Precious by Thomas Lupton (1627). It's a household receipt book, containing directions on everything from keeping your ink from freezing to destroying caterpillars to curing baldness. For the most part it's a marvelous testament to the power of the placebo:

You shall stay the bleeding of the nose, if you write with the same blood in the forehead of the party that bleeds, these words, following. Consummatum est. A thing proved with many.

And don't get me started about the experiment proving why you should keep toads out of your sage patch -- let's just say it would never pass muster with the NIH. But in other matters more sensible witnesses prevail:

If boyes or young men do use milke and exercise from the cradle, they are thereby more higher and taller of body, and of more comely and beautifull stature.

Amen. Drink your milk, fellows!

Comments

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

Good thing I don't need his presence in any of the 'fics currently in the queue -- gives him a little time to simmer down. And who else is going to get him access to the Rare Book and Manuscript Room after hours on the quiet? Ah, the power of librarianship (or at least library paraprofessional-ship) ...

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

HEE. Yes, that make Ed less inclined to stay angry at you for too long.

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

We usually have a good working relationship. I think he appreciates the Chibi Drabbles -- gives him a break from the Sturm und Drang.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, there is a lot of that running around. *beams*