Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10136
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    ‘Figure du Poisson nommé Vletif’

    Date
    1582
    Object type
    Library reference
    Tracts/X306/2
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 230mm
    width (print): 162mm
    Subject
    Description
    Figure of a fish resembling a boar, side view.

    In discussing the fish the author notes that its tusks: “ayant les dents canines, fort longues, trenchantes, & aigues, semblables a celles d'un grand Porc sanglier, lesquelles on estime estre bonnes contre les venins, comme la Licorene.” (it has very long, strong and sharp canine teeth, similar to those of a large boar, and these are considered to be effective against poisons, in the same way as the unicorn’s.”

    Illustration from Discours d'Ambroise Pare ... a scavoir, de la mumie, de la licorne, des venins, et de la peste, avec une table des plus notables matieres contenues esdit discours (chez Gabriel Buon, Paris, 1582), f.31.

    Ambroise Paré (c.1510-1590) was a French barber surgeon and anatomist who served several Kings of France.
    Associated place
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       > Europe
          > France
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