Plate in a Book: What It Means and Why It Exists
A plate is a full-page picture in a book, printed apart from the text and bound in, often…
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Dioscorides: The Greek Doctor Behind De Materia Medica
Pedanius Dioscorides was a Greek physician of the 1st century CE from Anazarbus, in what is now southern…
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Materia Medica: The Old Study of Healing Substances
Materia medica, Latin for “medical material,” is the old name for the study of substances used as medicines….
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Pharmacopoeia: The Official Book of Medicines
A pharmacopoeia is an official book that lists approved medicines and sets rules for making and testing them….
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Botanical Illustration: How Plants Were Drawn for Science
A botanical illustration is a picture of a plant made to show its form, color, and details accurately,…
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Rembert Dodoens (1517-1585): Flemish Physician and Botanist
Rembert Dodoens (1517 to 1585) was a Flemish physician and botanist, also known by his Latin name, Rembertus…
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Hermann Köhler: The Man Credited With Köhler’s Medicinal Plants
Hermann Adolph Köhler (1834 to 1879) was a German physician and chemist. He is often credited with writing…
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Herbal Books: How Old Plant Guides Were Made and Used
A herbal is a book that names and describes plants, mainly for their use in medicine. The word…
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Woodcut: The Oldest Way to Print an Image
A woodcut is a print made from a carved block of wood. It is the oldest form of…
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Chromolithography: How Color Prints Were Made From Stone
Chromolithography is a way of making color prints from stone, and later from metal plates. It grew out…
