[PEDEMONTAN Alexy]. Alexego Podemontana medyka y filozofa taiemnice; To all of both sexes, not only for the treatment of various diseases...1758

Girolamo Ruscelli alias Alexis Podemontanus (1500-1566), Italian physician, alchemist and cartographer. A man of many interests and active in many fields. His work is a practical household guide, mainly medical, and dealing with ancient preventive and curative medicine. In the preface to the first Italian edition of "Secreti", the author claimed that the tips and recipes collected in the work, previously unpublished, were tested and proven. The book was even extremely popular throughout Europe. Soon after its publication (1567) there were numerous translations into French, English, Flemish, Latin, Spanish, Polish, German and Danish, among others. The first Polish translation of the work, prepared by Marek Siennik, a botanist and publisher of Polish natural history prints, was published in 1568.The author of another translation was Sebastian Śleszkowski, a doctor of medicine (1576-1648), court physician to Sigismund III Vasa. The handbook consists of 9 books, the first 6 of which focus on medical advice on conditions ranging from the head to the feet. Book 7 is a treasure trove of knowledge on the possible uses of plants and minerals, while Book 8 is a practical guide useful for craftsmen, cooks or gardeners. The last part is devoted to viticulture and wine making.