Aristotle's Masterpiece

Bibliographic and Editorial Note.

This version of the Works of "Aristotle, the Famous 

Philosopher" is taken from a copy described on the title 

page as "London: Published by the Booksellers", and on 

the end-papers as "Printed and published by J. Coker & 

Co., 208 Shoe Lane, London, E.C.4.". Vilely printed on 

cheap wood-pulp paper, it is undated, but I would 

estimate it between 1900 and 1925. Some of the 

illustrations have been torn out. The "Family Physician" 

which is a 19th-century addition, has been omitted.

Note on the recipes

The edition has a great many misprints. As far as I 

can I have corrected these, but in some cases, especially 

in the many mixtures and potions, I have often been 

unable to tell what the ingredient is supposed to be. 

Senugreek is presumably fenugreek and sennel is fennel -- 

apparently the compositor was working from an edition 

printed with long s's -- and quinceys are quinces. But 

what are elephang, landant, melanchum, negalia, pilloch,  

and lots of others? They are not in the Oxford English 

Dictionary. In these cases I have reproduced them as is. 

I sincerely hope no one will be foolish enough to try to 

make and use these remedies.

TITLE PAGE

THE WORKS 

OF 

ARISTOTLE, 

THE FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER

Containing

I. -- His Complete Masterpiece. 

II. -- His Experienced Midwife. 

III. -- His Book of Problems. 

IV. -- His Remarks on Physiognomy. 

V. -- The Family Physician.

New and Improved Edition with Coloured Plates

LONDON: 

PUBLISHED BY THE BOOKSELLERS

TO THE READER

To say that ARISTOTLE, the learned author of the 

following sheets, was reported to be the most learned 

philosopher in the world, is no more than what every 

intelligent person already knows; nor can any think 

otherwise who will give themselves time to consider that 

he was the scholar of Plato (the wisest philosopher of 

his time) and under whom Aristotle profited so much, that 

he was chosen by King Philip of Macedon as the most 

worthy and proper person in his dominions to be tutor to 

his son Alexander, by whose wise precepts and 

instructions Alexander became master of so great wisdom, 

judgment, powers, and magnanimity, that he justly 

obtained the title of the Great. Alexander himself was so 

sensible of the advantage he received from the 

instructions of so great a Stagirite (for so Aristotle 

was called from the country of Stagira, where he was 

born) that he often declared he was more beholden to his 

tutor, Aristotle, for the cultivation of his mind, than 

to Philip, his father, for the kingdom of Macedon.

Though Aristotle applied himself to the 

investigations of the secrets of Nature, yet he was 

pleased to bring into a fuller and more true light those 

secrets with respect to the generation of man. This he 

styled his MASTERPIECE; and in this he has made so 

thorough a search, that he has as it were turned nature 

inside out.

The divine record assures us that the secrets of 

Nature have been the study of divers illustrious persons 

equally renowned for wisdom and goodness; the first of 

whom, Job, has made it sufficiently evident by that 

excellent philosophical account he gives of the 

generation of man, in the tenth chapter of the book which 

bears his name; where he says, "Thine hands hath made me, 

and fashioned me together round about; Thou has poured me 

out as milk, and curdled me like cheese; Thou hast 

clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with 

bones and sinews." David, one of the greatest kings of 

israel, whose piety was superior to his power, being 

peculiarly styled a man after God's own heart, says, in 

his divine soliloquies to his Creator, "Thou hast covered 

me in my mother's womb; I will praise Thee; for I am 

fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are Thy works, 

and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not 

hid from Thee when I was in secret, and curiously wrought 

in the lowest parts of the earth; Thine eye did see my 

substance, yet being imperfect; and in Thy book all my 

members were written, which in continuance were 

fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

Let the words of holy Job and those of David be put 

together, and I will not scruple to affirm that they make 

the most accurate system of philosophy respecting the 

generation of man that has ever yet been penned; 

therefore, why should not the mysteries of Nature be 

inquired into without censure, since, from this inquiry,