As the art of the printed book developed in Europe, certain towns became prominent in the industry. In Germany, one of these towns was Strasbourg. During the early years of the sixteenth century, Strasbourg was a wealthy trading town and home to a burgeoning scientific community. A book by Lorenz Fries, Spiegel der Artzny, first printed in 1518, provides a glimpse at the scientific climate of the time. Spiegel der Artzny focuses on internal medicine, and is notable for an early description of a gastric ulcer, as well as an impressive illustration of the thorax and abdomen. Fries' book was popular, befitting his status as the head of the medical community in Strasbourg. Fries and the book's printer, Johann Gruninger, were part of a loose affiliation of physicians and scientists in the area who worked in a variety of disciplines. Despite ventures into other areas of inquiry, Fries continued to influence the medical community. During the early 1500s, the spread of printing resulted in the rediscovery of classical texts, and doctors hunted for ancient medical texts to reissue just as their contemporaries were doing in the humanities. Many physicians argued for a new focus on the classical knowledge of the Greeks over the practice of Arabic medicine, which was the tradition during the medieval era. Fries argued for the authority of the Arabs and their focus on direct physical examination of the patient, instead of the Greek preference for knowledge of more abstract principles. Fries' viewpoint sparked a vigorous debate in Strasbourg, which took place using the latest technology - the printed book.

The Ebling Library Copy (WZ 240 F912s 1507-19)

Our copy of Spiegel der Artzny is the second edition of 1519. It contains many of the features common to books of its time. The typeface is black letter, which developed in the early years of printing to mimic the look of hand copied manuscripts. The primary text is arranged in double columns, also in imitation of manuscript forms. The Ebling Library copy contains many examples of marginalia, the notes and marks written in the book by past owners and readers. There are also ownership marks on the title page from previous owners in 1563 and 1592. All of these elements are artifacts of an era with much to teach us about the development of medical knowledge.