Rare second enlarged edition of three notable medical and pharmaceutical works by Steven Blankaart, a Dutch physician, and entomologist. He may be regarded as one of the most important Dutch physicians and medical authors of the 17th century. The first work had appeared in 1678 and at least 6 editions followed until 1725. The book is dedicated to Ernst Casimir, stadtholder of Friesland, dated Amsterdam, 1 July 1680 and opens with a laudatory poem by J. van Dueren. The added works are preceded by their own divisional title page: De nieuwe hedeldaagsche stof-scheiding, ofte Chymia and De nieuwe Nederlandsche Apothekers winkel.
Steven Blankaart (1650-1704) was a Dutch physician, iatrochemist, and entomologist, who worked on the same field as Jan Swammerdam (1637-1680). Blankaart, in his work as an entomologist, collaborated with Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) on the publication of her work. Blankaart proved the existence of a capillary system, as had been suggested by Leonardo da Vinci, by spouting up bloodvessels, though he failed to realise the true significance of his findings. He is known for his development of injection techniques for this study and for writing the first Dutch book on child medicine, being one of the first to do research on children education and incontinence. Blankaart followed the principles established by René Descartes and was one the first physicians to be considered a scientist or empiricist.
With a crossed-out owner's inscription on the title page, the first full-page engraved plate (between pp. 16 and 17 of the second part) is loose but still present. The edges of the first few leaves are slightly frayed, some slight spotting. Otherwise in good condition. Bibl. Med. Neerl. I, p. 172; NNBW 4, col. 157; STCN 097797138 (2 copies); WorldCat 65527798, 65955340 (3 copies, incl. 2 same as STCN); cf. Thijssen-Schoute p. 258 ff.; G.A. Lindeboom, Chapter 4: 'Bloei (1625-1700)', in: Geschiedenis van de medische wetenschap in Nederland (1972); Ferguson I, p. 109.