1615 – Long Life & Longevity – Pansa | Medicine – Health & Exercise, Dying

Aureus Libellus de Proroganda Vita by Martin Pansa is an early 17^th-century survey on the causes of long and short life. Written from a medical perspective, this work covers questions of health, morality, and the limits of the human lifespan. To this end, Pansa even includes a section on whether humans can achieve immortality through medicine. Other sections include diet, air, environment, exercise, emotional states, and moderation in daily habits with a curious chapter on psychological concerns such as terror, damage of sexual restraint, and the fear of death.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Aureus libellus de proroganda vita, in quo causae longioris ac brevioris vitae exquisitè describuntur
• Author(s): Martin Pansa
• Publisher: Leipzig, Lorenz Kober; Thomas Schurer
• Edition: 1615 edition.
• Binding: Full vellum binding
• Format: (12mo), two parts in one volume
• Size: 6.25 in × 4.25 in
• Collation: [8], 214 [i.e. 206]; [viii], 164 pp
• Contents Include:
  • Causes of long and short life
  • Medical and philosophical views on longevity
  • Diet, environment, and exercise
  • Biblical perspectives on lifespan
  • Moderation and daily habits

Condition:

Very Good. Full vellum binding tight and secure with minimal staining. Text block firm. Pages show age toning but remain clean and legible.

Why Collect This?

• Early 17th century medical work on longevity
• Covers diet, environment, and lifespan theory
• Suitable for collectors of early medicine and philosophy

Item Number: #50226