[Schrick, Michael Puff von]. Von allen geprenten Wassern, in welcher Maß man die nützen und gebrauchen sol, zu Gesundheyt und Fristung der Gebrechen der Menschen [...].

Early edition of this oft-printed treatise on distillation, treating dozens of different herbal essences. "Michael Puff (1400-73) of Schrick, a little village in Austria, was a teacher at Vienna University [...] Often printed during the 15th and 16th centuries; all these editions are rare" (Duveen). The earliest extant manuscript dates from 1463 (Solothurn ZB, cod. S 386, 132r-136v); no fewer than 31 incunables were printed (GW M43671 ff.), not to mention another twelve editions between 1502 and 1601 which settled the work's status as one of the most widely known publications on distillation. More than "30 editions after the author's lifetime must count as unique in the history of the Viennese medical school" (Senfelder, who was unaware of several editions only discovered after his time). Schrick's treatise was also incorporated into the works of later writers such as Brunschwig and Hieronymus Bock. "Undoubtedly it prevailed far into the 17th century as the principal manual for administering alcoholic distillates" (Walther/Keil, "Puff", in: Verfasserlexikon VII, col. 909).

Michael Puff, born ca 1400 in Schrick (near Mistelbach in Lower Austria), matriculated in Vienna in 1417. He was known as Master of Arts since 1423 and took a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1433. Two years later he was elected Dean of the medical faculty, an office he would hold eleven times. In 1452 he oversaw the first dissection of a female corpse in Vienna. He died early in 1473 and was buried in St. Stephen's Cathedral (cf. Walther/Keil, col. 905f.).

Browned and fingerstained throughout; upper edge trimmed rather closely.