Expériences faites sur les propriétés des lézards
Subtitle: tant en chair qu'en liquers, dans le traitement des maladies vénériennes et dartreuses
Contributors: Vicq-d'Azyr, M. (Félix), 1748-1794
Publisher: [s.n.]
Published: 1787
Place of publication: A Lausane [sic]
Language: fre
Number of pages: 33
Notes: This edition printed anonymously but often ascribed to Félix Vicq-d'Azyr, then personal physician to Marie Antoinette and the writer of a few letters in this volume dated between 1784 and 1787; another 1805 edition printed in Besançon with Girod-Chantrans given as author on title page. It seems likely that Girod-Chartrans, a Swiss naturalist and student of tropical medicine, is the author as he made several voyages to the French West Indies and had published his accounts both in German and in French in 1786 and 1787, respectively. A copy of this 1787 edition held by the Bibliothèque municipale d'études et de conservation in Besançon also attributes the work to "Girod de Chantrans" from a ms. note on title page. Further textual evidence to give Girod-Chantrans as primary author comes from the letter on p. 13-14 which states: "Ayant appris de M. de Chantrans les guérisons obtenues à St. Domingue par les moyens des lézards ..."; this letter mentions Girod-Chantrans several more times as having been the source for this account.

Concerns the use of lizards to cure venereal and skin diseases. Several accounts are given of the state of venereal disease among the Black population of Saint-Domingue and the various lizards used to combat the diseases.

Signatures: A¹² B (B5 verso, B6 blank)

Woodcut printer's ornament on title page.

John Carter Brown Library copy acquired with the assistance of the Martin L. Ludington and L.L. and B.F. Swan Book Funds.