The exotic world of Pierre Pomet's A Compleat History of Druggs.
The English translation of Pierre Pomet's A Compleat History of Druggs (1712) demonstrates how the expansion of print culture altered the way that scientific ideas were communicated. Although it makes utilitarian claims, the text of the History departs from the style of contemporary British pharmacopoeias by emphasizing the exotic aspects of drugs. In this sense, the text exemplifies how Enlightenment science could be sold to a cross-over audience interested as much in the fantastical as in the quality and operation of drugs.
Sherman
Sandra
S
Department of English, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. ssherman@uark.edu
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D019021:Natural History / Q000266:history*; D010602:Pharmacopoeias as Topic / Q000266:history*; D011327:Printing / Q000266:history