Publisher's Synopsis
In an era when a ship's medicine chest was its most precious cargo, Dr. John Woodall (1570-1643) compiled his wisdom into The Surgeon's Mate - the first comprehensive medical guide for sailors navigating both distant seas and the precarious waters of 17th-century health. This carefully reconstructed edition invites you to explore the herbal heart of Woodall's practice, where every remedy tells a story of survival, ingenuity, and humanity's enduring relationship with healing plants. Within these pages, you'll discover how Woodall transformed the limited resources of a ship's hold into a floating apothecary. His citrus preparations waged war on scurvy decades before the medical establishment recognized their value. His herbal infusions soothed anxious sailors far from home. Even his more unusual ingredients - like the dragon's blood resin used for wound dressings - speak to the global trade routes that brought exotic botanicals into European medicine. Each recipe has been lovingly adapted for modern preparation while preserving its historical character. More than just a collection of old formulas, this volume offers a window into daily life at sea. Perfect for herbal enthusiasts and history lovers alike, this book bridges centuries, connecting today's renewed interest in plant medicine with its nautical roots. Whether you're stirring a pot of elderberry syrup or simply marveling at how our ancestors healed with what nature provided, you'll find yourself part of an unbroken tradition that began in Woodall's surgery and continues in kitchens and gardens today.
