Rare fifth(?) edition, published in the year of the authors death, of a work on pharmaceutical chemistry written by the Spanish apothecary Félix Palacios (1677-1737). When the Palestra pharmaceutica appeared in 1706, it was the first work on the subject written in the Spanish language. Even though it became widely accepted and used in Spain, Palacios met strong resistance from his colleagues because he rejected the galenic, or plant based, medicines in favour of chemical medicines. With this he rejected the ideas of Galen, Mesue and Dioscorides, which were still the standard in most parts of Europe and the Middle East. The work starts with a preliminary text, followed by a chapter on the general principles of pharmacology and chemistry in the form of questions and answers. The other four chapters deal with the ingredients and making of the medicines. It discusses distillation and calcination methods with the engraved plates showing various tools and instruments: pots, furnaces, alambics etc.
First few leaves slightly damaged along the edges, water stains throughout and binding soiled, worn and recased; a fair copy. Blake, p. 336; Palau 209403; Wellcome IV, p. 286 (incomplete); WorldCat (6 copies).