Nicholas Culpeper

Nicholas Culpeper (1616 – 1654) was a physician, herbalist, botanist, and astrologer. He was radical for his time because he believed in using common herbs, examining patients for free and using astrology to help poor people back to health.  His book The English Physician, was purposefully sold cheaply and incidently was used by the colonists in North America. His book The Complete Herbal, is in print to this day.

Nicholas believed medicine was a “public asset” rather than a commercial one. His work and books had a significant social impact on the people of London.  Culpeper’s his outspoken remarks about physicians, priests and lawyers, lead to him being accused of witchcraft by the Society of Apothecaries.  This resulted in him joining a local military unit as a battlefield surgeon during the English Civil War (1643). Unfortunately he sustained a serious chest injury and returned to London. 

His first medical book A Physical Directory, or a Translation of the London Directory - translation of the Pharmacopoeia Londonesis of the Royal College of Physicians was published in 1649.  The 1651 edition, printed by Peter Cole, at the sign of the Printing Press in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange is available online through a Digital Humanities project by the Hathi Trust. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435018075440;view=1up;seq=8 .  This book provided a comprehensive list and instructions for medicines made by apothecaries for physicians.  The Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership has actually transcribed the book into modern terms. This can be accessed at this URL http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eebo;idno=A35390.0001.001

It is rather ironic that a man who has been dead for over 360 years composed books that are available and at least one remains in use to this day.  His works improved the lives of common people in both England and America.  Physical printers have continued to make these books available through the centuries and online ‘printers’ have made them even more accessible.  As I have not actually examined many of the editions available, I cannot comment on the credibility and reliability of textual materials.  But I do find it fascinating that due to his extensive research and desire to help his fellow man, we are able to read and interact with his works.

Biographical information - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Culpeper

Diane Culpin