DIGBY, Kenelm (1603-65). A Late Discourse made in Solemne Assembly ... Touching the Cure of Wounds by the Powder of Sympathy; with Instructions how to make the said Powder, London, 1658, 12mo, later calf. Second [English] edition. RARE.

DIGBY, Kenelm (1603-65).  A Late Discourse Made in a Solemne Assembly of Nobles and Learned Men at Montpellier in France ... Touching the Cure of Wounds by the Powder of Sympathy; with Instructions how to make the said Powder; whereby many other Secrets of Nature are unfolded ... Rendered faithfully out of French into English By R. White, Gent. The Second Edition [see note] corrected and augmented, with the addition of an Index. London: "Printed for R. Lowndes at the White Lion, and T. Davies at the Bible in S. Paul's Church-yard over against the little North Door," 1658. 12mo (138 x 75mm). Title within woodcut typographical border, typographical ornaments and initials, translator's printed dedication to "John Digbye Esq. [b.1627, Kenelm Digby's only surviving son] at Gothhurst", 4-pages of "A Table " [i.e. an index, as called for on the title page] followed by one-page of publisher's advertisements at the end (typographical border to title shaved at fore-edge, pieces torn away from fore-edge of A3 affecting part of one letter of the catchword, some spotting and staining, a few darker spots, lightly browned). Later calf ruled in blind and preserving earlier lettering-piece. Provenance: From the Collection of Professor Jonathan Brostoff, D.M., D.Sc., FRCP, FRCPath (1934-2020); [?]James [?]Frampton (old signature on title); another old, illegible, signature on title. "'The second edition' is the earliest one known, and is probably the original. A French version appeared in 1658. De Morgan believed 'R. White' to be identical with Digby's friend and disciple, Thomas White ... Although a shrewd observer of natural phenomena, Digby was a scientific amateur rather than a man of science. Astrology and alchemy formed serious parts of his study, and his credulity led him to many ludicrous conclusions ... Digby first described his well-known weapon-salve, or powder of sympathy, in the discourse alleged to have been delivered at Montpellier in 1658. Its method of employment stamps it as the merest quackery ... " (see DNB, et passim). The DNB would appear to be wrong about the second edition. WorldCat lists several copies of an English edition of the same year as the present one without the addition of the wording "The Second edition" to the title page and without the addition of an index. Second [English] edition. Rubin Sir Kenelm Digby. An Annotated Bibliography 61; Wing D1436. RARE.