In this text, Jeremiah Love, a "doctor of physick," comprehensively investigates the symptoms, causes, and cures of diseases common in 1674. After exhausting all possible avenues, including herbs, chemistry, and astrology, this gifted physician and self-promoter claims to have invented the perfect cure-all medication, Panax Anglia. According to Love, this amazing "apozem" (infusion) causes absolutely no side effects and can be used to safely treat everything from depression to acne. The text illustrates medical issues of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and is reminiscent of the prescription drug advertising campaigns that abound today.
—AP
Love, Jeremiah. Clavis medicinae: or, The practice of physick reformed wherein is described the nature and cause of most diseases and the select way of cure for the same. A method contrary to all authors in being. By Jeremiah Love, doctor of pysick [sic]., London : printed for Henry Brome, at the Gun in St. Paul Church-Yard, at the west end, 1674 Wing (CD-ROM, 1996) / L3187A
View available documents
Clavis Medicinae, Title Page
Clavis Medicinae, pp. 10-11
Clavis Medicinae, pp. 60-61
Clavis Medicinae, pp. 62-63
Teacher Ideas
Amanda Parker / East Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, NC / English
Romeo and Juliet includes multiple references to sickness and medicine. I use this source to discuss sixteenth-century medical practices with my students. In groups of three or four, the students look over Love's descriptions of various illnesses and treatments. Afterwards, they create a brochure or poster to advertise a medicine for a disease from which a character in the play might suffer. Ads must include the name of the medication, the name and symptoms of the illness, and other important information.
Gregory Taylor / Hillside Junior High School, Boise, ID / English
Friar Lawrence's first scene in Romeo and Juliet (2.3.1–22), where he picks herbs and describes their positive and negative effects, would work well with this source. Have students read his speech and decide what kind of potion he might be preparing. In addition, have students decide how the Friar might choose to treat Romeo's "disease." They must consider many possible options and then decide on the best course of treatment. Have them use Love's text as a model as they write their own medical instructions. This could be done in groups or individually.
Jen Breen / Brookline High School, Brookline, MA / English
This would be a great connection to modern-day crushes. Have students come up with contemporary cures for love-sickness and share them with the class.
