Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst

Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst – Editions Medicina Rara – 38.1.1 Phys. 2° – Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany)

Dresden (Germany) — 1583

Foldouts of the eye in Georg Bartisch's milestone of medical history: 92 fascinating, partly multi-layered woodcuts in the oldest comprehensive German textbook and first Renaissance work on ophthalmology

  1. Georg Bartisch (1535–1607) wrote and self-published his treatise on ophthalmology in Dresden in 1583

  2. His own watercolors served as the template for the woodcuts, which were presumably made by Hans Hewamaul

  3. The work was dedicated to Elector Augustus I of Saxony (1526–86), who was famous for his various museum collections

Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst

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  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (2)
Description
Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst

In 1583, Georg Bartisch (1535–1607) published a treatise on ophthalmology that simultaneously represents the first Renaissance work and the first comprehensive textbook in German on the subject as well as being the first work to examine it as an independent subject. He wrote the work in Dresden, printed it at his own expense and dedicated it to Elector Augustus I of Saxony (1526–1586), for whom he also served as court oculist. Although cataracts are the main subject of the work, it also contains instructions for the treatment of conjunctivitis and other eye diseases. 92 magnificent woodcuts show the anatomy and illustrate the diseases of the eye, with the instruments developed by Bartisch himself appearing throughout. Two of these woodcuts also have movable flaps showing the anatomical layers of the head and eye. They make the work a remarkable testimony to both the history of medicine and Renaissance printmaking.

Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst

Georg Bartisch (1535-1607) was an important physician of the German Renaissance in Dresden and achieved fame above all through his ophthalmological work Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst, which is the oldest comprehensive textbook in German on this subject. As the son of a common surgeon, he was unable to obtain an academic education - which is probably why he never learned Latin. Nevertheless, after completing his apprenticeship as a barber and surgeon, he became a well-known ophthalmologist. He not only worked as court oculist to Elector Augustus I of Saxony (1526-1586), but also developed his own instruments, which repeatedly appear in the woodcuts of the Ophthalmodouleia.

Modern Ophthalmology against Witchcraft

The main topic of the treatise dedicated to Elector Augustus is gray cataracts, which Bartisch classifies according to their color: gray, white, black, blue, green and yellow. However, he also discusses other eye diseases such as conjunctivitis and countless own recipes for ointments for all kinds of complaints. Each eye disease and the corresponding treatment are thoroughly described, including surgical practices and the instruments used. Despite the great innovation of the text and the methods described, Bartisch also adhered to traditional, superstitious ideas. For example, he advises doctors to consider the astrological conditions before every intervention and sees the causes of illness sometimes in magic and witchcraft.

92 Impressive Woodcuts

As Bartisch was initially unable to find anyone willing to publish the work, he took matters into his own hands and had the textbook printed by Matthes Stoeckel in Dresden in 1583 at his own expense. To illustrate it, he probably commissioned Hans Hewamaul (H. H.) to produce 92 remarkable woodcuts based on his own drawings, which visualize anatomical aspects as well as the treatment methods and instruments described. Particularly noteworthy are two multi-layered illustrations, on which fold-out flaps are applied, which gradually make different "levels" of the anatomy of the head and eyeball comprehensible. The woodcuts also provide an insight into the interior design and fashion of the time, as the patients' clothing in particular was depicted with great attention to detail. This makes the Ophthalmodouleia not only an outstanding testimony to modern medical history, but also a fascinating Renaissance work of art.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Ophthalmodouleia. Das ist Augendienst
Size / Format
620 pages / 31.2 × 19.0 cm
Origin
Germany
Date
1583
Language
Illustrations
92 woodcuts
Content
Textbook on ophthalmology
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst – Editions Medicina Rara – 38.1.1 Phys. 2° – Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany)
Editions Medicina Rara – Stuttgart, 1977
Limited Edition: 500 copies (Deluxe edition)

Ophthalmodouleia. Das ist Augendienst
Editions Medicina Rara – Stuttgart, 1977
Limited Edition: 2300 copies (Normal edition)
Detail Picture

Ophthalmodouleia Das ist Augendienst

Eyebrow Clamps

This engraving appears in a section of the treatise concerning the treatment of eye infections with ointments. The instructions state that Oleo Hypericonis is to be applied twice a day with the help of these eyebrow clamps and that it should take 3-4 weeks to fully heal. Bartisch, the author, claims to have cured the eye infections of many of his patients with such a treatment. The clamps, which have a hinge on one end and a threaded hole for a tiny screw at the other, certainly look uncomfortable. They were likely intended to allow the patient to administer the ointment themselves with one hand while holding the lower lid down with the other.

Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst – Editions Medicina Rara – 38.1.1 Phys. 2° – Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany)
Single Page

Ophthalmodouleia Das ist Augendienst

Cataract Surgery

The oldest mention of cataract surgery is to be found in the Code of Hammurabi from ca. 1750 BC and in Bartisch’s day it was performed with so-called “cataract needles”. Like today, the procedure is depicted here with the patient left conscious, but unlike today there was no general anesthesia for the pain. At best one might get a couple of shots of something strong to steady their nerve, and the surgeon may well have done the same to steady their hand.

With the help of an assistant holding the patient’s head in place, the surgeon has his back to the window to make the best use of the light. He is positioned so that he is practically straddling the patient’s lap for what should hopefully be a quick and clean operation. All three figures are dressed in the lavish fashion favored in late-16th century Germany: knee-length padded hose, doublets, jerkins, ruffled Spanish-style collars, and one wears a stylish hat.

Ophthalmodouleia - Augendienst – Editions Medicina Rara – 38.1.1 Phys. 2° – Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Ophthalmodouleia. Das ist Augendienst

Editions Medicina Rara – Stuttgart, 1977

Publisher: Editions Medicina Rara – Stuttgart, 1977
Limited Edition: 500 copies (Deluxe edition)
Binding: Full leather binding with blind tooling, hand bound
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: German, English
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)

#2 Ophthalmodouleia. Das ist Augendienst

Editions Medicina Rara – Stuttgart, 1977

Publisher: Editions Medicina Rara – Stuttgart, 1977
Limited Edition: 2300 copies (Normal edition)
Binding: Half leather binding
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: German, English
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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