The alphabetical index of the documents found in Doctor Alcomb's home after his exuction for letting the Sultana of Stiflos die of an unmentionable ailment.
Author: Luckless Losdui
Description: Covered in silk stretched over thin wood, the vellum pages are unbound, but wrapped with a hemp cord. The average manuscript is printed in Old Common, with black ink.
Contents: A compendium of 88 mistaken or accidental curatives. Many of the tonics, elixirs, potions, and concoctions are of doubtful effect, though there are a few basic curatives for nausea, fevers, coughs, and sinus congestion. A few of the formula are ironically useful as antacids, emetics, purgatives, diuretics, and laxatives. The formula for preparing smelling salts is also considered trustworthy. Also includes instructions on preparing bezoars, apocroustics, and apophlegmatisms, most of which don't work.
Page Count: 176
Advances in Medicine
Author: Suelasta Abdul Fadahl
Description: The grand tome is translated in Common, with black ink. The papyrus pages are bound with twine to wooden boards, with a cover of thin wood.
Contents: A little known document which covers the medical practices of an advanced culture. Includes dentistry, some grooming & hygiene, ophthalmology, and describes the selection, use, and preparation of several medical implements This book covers the causes of disease and how hygiene can reduce it's spread. It also covers quarantine to reduce the spread of disease by infected patients. Basic anatomy is covered as well as physiology, discussing the need for both observation and dissection in order to treat ailments. Ophthalmology treatments are also covered, particularly with the use of hypodermic needle. The mental well being of the patient is also covered, with some basic psychoanalysis and sleep psychiatry. Surgical procedures beyond simple suturing or bloodletting are also covered, though not as indepth as several practical chirurgical guides. The preparation and use of "soporfic sponges" (anesthetic aromatics and narcotics) are also covered to aid in surgery. Additionally mentioned is the use of leeches for cupping. Detailed accounts of the application of all these techinques is exposed through the use of systemetic experiments which use clinical trials, control subjects, and efficiency tests in order to prove that the treatments and methods work.
Page Count: 926
Barber's Guide to the Art of Shaving
Author: Agmur Silverbear
Description: Written in black ink in Common, is this small pamphlet. Covered in deerhide, the parchment pages are unbound, but wrapped with a hemp cord.
Contents: While it covers shaving and bloodletting, this journal also covers other aspects of grooming & hygiene. The creation and application of depilitories and enemas, basic surgery of wounds, blood-letting, cupping and leeching, and the extraction of teeth are all also of major use to the healer.
Page Count: 56
Bloodletting and Bone-setting in the Frozen North
Author: Skald Víðarr Skallagrimson
Description: The wood pages are unbound, but wrapped with leather thongs, with a cover of corroded iron. A goodly-sized codex printed in black ink in Trade Tongue. There is a picture of a Rune on the cover and spilled sauce covers a section of the book.
Contents: This volume details the various methods of healing used among the northern barbarians. Coverage includes splints, casts, realigning dislocated joints, breaking bones, joint manipulation and some massage techniques, along with selection and usage of bone saws, and the functionality of cauterization. Not to be overlooked is the usage of spas and saunas for healing. The medicinal uses of honey are the only coverage of medications.
Page Count: 90
Charter of the Royal Horse Leech
Author: Shadmir Talamar the XIV
Description: The white paper pages are unbound, but wrapped with a leather cord, with a cover of hard leather. A hefty book written in blue ink in the upper-class dialect of Common. Grease marks cover the sides of the book and a picture of a horse adorns the cover.
Contents: A document concerning the care of horses, primarily those used by knights and nobility for mounts. Faring (farrier) information, as well as mount handling, currying, care and maintenance of tack and barding, and tools of the trade are also covered. Though of little use to a healer not specializing in horses, the discussion of royal politics and rivalries is quite useful for the practicing physician.
Page Count: 128
Description:The moderate manuscript is written in Common, with black ink. Vellum pages are sewn into leather thongs which are laced together to the soft leather cover.
Contents: Primarily a collection of 500 short stories concerning various folklore, yarns and superstitions about folk healing. This book has instructions for creating several common home remedies of chancy effectiveness, and aromatherapy and apitheraphy are extensively covered.
Page Count: 640
Diary of a Dog Leech
Description: The oversized pamphlet is printed in a lower-class dialect of Common, with black ink. The rag paper pages are glued into the spine, with a cover of glass beads glued to thin wood.
Contents: A guide to the animal husbandry of canines. Focuses primarily on the breeding and training of dogs, using a classification system which recognizes herd dogs, hunting dogs, fowling dogs, guard dogs, fighting dogs, sled dogs, and lapdogs. Also included are details on bathing and currying, preparation of delousing powders, creams, and soaps, identification of rabid dogs and how to avoid being bitten, how to de-worm dogs using several medical formula, how to treat dogs for fleas, mites, and ticks, care and maintenance of canine teeth, and treatment of common eye diseases. While at first glance this text may not make much sense for a healer to possess, many of the health techniques included can also be applied to humans and because dogs closely interact with humans, leading to health issues.
Page Count: 47
Drugger’s Guide to Astringents, Balms, and Creams
Description: Covered in semi-precious stones glued to thin wood, the vellum pages are cleverly folded together from one long section. Printed in black ink in Alchemical Symbols, is this great pamphlet.
Contents: This apothecarian text covers the creation, application, and storage of over 200 astringents, balms, creams, emolients, ointments, salves, & unguents. While several of these medicines aren't all that useful, the plethora of formula provided means that at least some of these can be used for the treatment of burns (including sunburn), rashes, skin irritations, insect bites and stings, pain, sore joints, muscles, and tendons, vermin removal (such as lice, fleas, etc), and acne. Additionally, some soaps and other cleansers can also be created. However, of probably more use is the detailed data concerning the apothecary's tools, particularly given the cleverly illustrated examples of all the containers, mixers, and alchemical devices of use to the apothecary.
Page Count: 320
Dwarven Medica Materia
Description: The pressed steel pages are bound with metal chains, with a cover of polished adamantium. An outsized tome stamped in red ink in Dwarven.
Contents: An apothecary primer touting the curative properties of 177 minerals and underground biota. Mostly useless, but does cover some basic applications of salts as a curative, as well as a few rare underground fungi with healing properties. Useful for it’s concise and simple to follow instructions on the preparative processes of grinding, powdering, making pastes (etc).
Page Count: 230
Accuracy: 30% effective on dwarves and other subterranean races, 21% effective on all other races
Author: Throola Ruabrarrae
Description: The great manuscript is printed in Old High Elvish, with green ink. The vellum pages are sewn into the spine with silk, with a cover of deer hide.
Contents: A text dedicated to the exhaustive lore of elves concerning the identification, preparation, and application of 999 herbal remedies. Written in Old High Elvish, it requires extensive translation ability, as many of the plants and ingredients (there are few non-plant ingredients, primarily liquids and some fungi) are only listed in there original elven names instead of ‘modern’ names an appellations. While exhaustive, only 60% of the formula work, less on non-elvish races. Some versions have an addendum covering elven hygenic practices.
Page Count: 1023
Accuracy: 64% effective on elves, 48% effective on humans, 16% effective on dwarves, 2% effective on goblinoids, 35% effective on most other races
Gobbledygook’s Goblin Fixin’
Author: Yorghalg The Muddled
Description: This limited coverless pamphlet consists of bark pages held together by a single copper ring in the upper left corner. Crudely illustrated in Goblinoid.
Contents: A simplistic, easy-to-understand (even by non-goblinoids) tract detailing the primary methods and treatments of goblinoid medicine. It consists of a series of illustrated tables using the three goblin diagnostics; pain, funny color, and funny smell. Naturally, there are only three possible treatments, bashing with a rock, cutting off the diagnosed area, or using a flammable liquid to ignite the diagnosed area. Ironically, while these medical practices are of only limited use on non-goblinoid species, they seem to be substantially more effective when utilized on goblinoid species.
Page Count: 5
Accuracy: 87% effective on goblinoids, 10% to 12% effective on other races
Handbook on Home Brewing
Description: Printed in black ink in Common, is this moderate pamphlet. Parchment pages are bound with metal staples to the thin wood cover.
Contents: While a somewhat inaccurate guide to brewing fermented alcoholic beverages from grains, fruits and vegetables. (specifically including ale, beer, lager, mead, sake, and basic wines), it also covers infusions, teas, tisanes, and aromatic vapors. With over 164 recipes, this book can be quite handy, however alcoholics and moonshiners will be disappointed in the lack of coverage of distilled alcohols such as spirits (i.e. brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey), fine or sparkling wines, and fortified wines (sherry and port) created by adding spirits to wines. Apothecaries will be disappointed with the lack of tinctures, philtres, medicinal spirits.
Page Count: 76
Hook and Peg:
A guide to prosthetic limbs for pirates, plunderers,privateers, marauders, buccaneers, corsairs, freebooters,rovers, waterpads and whipjacks
Author: Nefarious Benedict
Description: The thick wood cover of this narrow book is dominated by the primary title and an image of a crossed hook and peg leg. The subtitle is written in smaller letters underneat the image. The rag paper pages are written in blank ink in the pirate argot of Trade Tongue.
Contents: This book covers the creation of a variety of prosthetic limbs, including hook replacements for hands, peg legs, peg arms, eye patches, glass eyes, iron hands and iron claws (though many made of brass, bronze, and copper due to iron rusting when at sea), wooden noses, wooden tongues, wooden teeth, as well as wooden nether prosthetics. Quite a bit of detail is devoted to the use of piercings, particularly ear and nose piercings, for medicinal purposes. Hygenic practices in creating and maintaing tattoos is also mentioned in passing, though the only hard details are recommendations on the preferred instruments and inks, as well as various alcoholic beverages used to aid in the acquisition of tattoos (rum and grog are highly recommended pain killers and brandy is recommended to be poured on the tattoo to prevent infection).
Page Count: 15
Illuminated Manuscript of the Sisters of Charity
Author: Sister Talala
Description:The vellum pages are sewn into the spine with twine, with a cover of cowhide. The hefty manuscript is printed in liturgical language of the Sisters of Charity with vermillion ink. There is a bookmark tucked in the spine.
Contents: The charter of the monastic medical practices of the Sisters of Charity, a sub-order of the major healing church/deity dedicated to providing non-magical medical aid to supplicants. Present within this volume are various methods of grooming and cleaning, diagnostic studies, childbirth information, and details on the preparation and application of bandages, as well as the use (but not preparation) of curatives, medicines, and restoratives.
Page Count: 48
The Ledger of Lazars
Author: Deacon Hethsa Clearson
Description: A slender work written in black ink in a regional creole of Common. Papyrus pages are sewn into the spine with twisted gut to lizard scales stretched over thin wood cover.
Contents: A guide to lepers and other diseased outcasts. Identification of leprosy, through examination of skin lesions and nasal problems is covered in detail. Additionally, quarantine and treatment of lepers, including amputation of limbs, bandaging, and the creation of several plant-based curatives, is discussed.
Page Count: 18
Author: Timid Morton
Description: The parchment pages are loosely attached, with a cover of clam shells glued to thin wood. A skinny book written in blue ink in nautical jargon.
Contents: This document covers the medical practices of sailors. Includes a dozen hang-over remedies, fourteen purported cures for social diseases, and three treatments for alcoholism and drug addiction. Of interest to the apothecary is the small selection of curative properties of 27 sea creatures, 16 aquatic plants, and the various types of pearls.
Page Count: 38
Medicine of the Mysterious East
Author: Suhara Yoshinari
Description: Printed in gold ink in Common, is this bulky orihon. Washi paper pages are cleverly folded together from one long section and sewn into the bamboo cover.
Contents: A translation of a major oriental medical text. Apothecaries (assuming they can get their hands on them) will be delighted by the details on 250 common herbal treatments. Of dubious utility to western physicians are the use of accupuncture, breathing exercises, dietary therapy, meditation, moxibustion, and esoteric physical exercies. While anatomy is covered, the Mysterious East assigns some different organs to the body’s processes. Surgical techniques are not covered at all, though the use of massage techniques and bone setting do have practical value to the western healer.
Page Count: 896
Accuracy: 97%, however due to the exotic nature of many of the cures, the regional lack of herbs, and the roughness of the translation, only 32% of the information is regularly used for treatments.
Monograph on Vivisection
Author: Ongenfrith is listed as the author, but a note contained in the index draws a comparison between the style of writing and that of Doctor Alcomb's annotations.
Description: The outsized tome is written in medical jargon, with crimson ink. Paper pages are double-stitched into the spine and cover with silk to the polished lead cover.
Contents: Details of over 650 unethical medical experiments and their results. A useful guide for chirurgery, anatomy, and treatment of pain, bleeding, and other causes of wounds. Also covers cauterization, bone setting, amputation, trepanning, leeching, suturing (though not quite beneficial in application, as it covers the use of suturing to seal things in the body which are not conducive to good health), abortions, and some (unnecessary) prosthetic surgery.
Page Count: 666
Accuracy: 87% in it's particular field, however the healer will only find about 43% of the document to be useful.
Narratives of Grace Wives, Handwomen, Howdy Wives, and Midwives
Author: Jenthia Frostville
Description: The outsized codex is written in Common, with pink ink. The vellum pages are bound with twine to wooden boards, with a cover of heavy wood.
Contents: A collection of various experiences in the field of midwivery. Included is information about general cleanliness, care and positioning of expectant mothers, methods to receive the infant, initial examination of the infant, and alternative methods of birthing, such as the bath birth. Additionally there are some cryptic references to birth control methods and practices, abortion surgery, and the use of abortifacients. Fortunately for the reader of this volume, Doctor Alcomb has provided margin notes detailing these references.
Page Count: 128
Accuracy: 58% accurate for non-annotated versions. Doctor Alcomb's annotations raise the accuracy to 66%.
Plants of the Western Kingdom
Author: Baron Inverus Carpon
Description: The substantial herbal is copied in Common in green ink. The paper pages are sewn into the spine in twine, with a soft leather cover.
Contents: A botany guide detailing 328 common plants. Each plant is presented with one or more detailed color illustrations, the most recognized name for the species, as well as a listing of common appellations and addtional notes of interest such as the flavor of spices and herbs, taste of grains, fruits, and vegetables, and basic terrain the plant can be found in. Of importance the apothecary are the details on healing properties and poisonous specimens.
Page Count: 340
Accuracy: 74% for Doctor Alcomb's copy, though annotated versions can be found with minor corrections raising the accuracy to 80%.
Primitive Healers of the Utter South
Author: Werdale the Wanderer
Description: Palm leaf pages are unbound, but wrapped with hemp cord to the ivory cover. A substantial narrative written in black ink in Common.
Contents: A collection of stories concerning the superstitious healing rituals of primitive jungle witch doctors as well as 267 formula for clays, muds, plants and animal-based poultices, poisons, antidotes, remedies, antibiotics, and antifungals. The major section of interest however, are the translations of medical texts of the ancient southern kingdoms and their unique forms of advanced medical treatment. While this document does not cover much in the way of anatomy (despite their advances, the ancient kingdoms of the south only had a rudimentary understanding of anatomy), the 114 medicines, non-invasive surgeries, and hygenic practices, as well as practical advice for the apothecary or herbalist in identifying curative materials and providing (imprecise) formulas for restoratives.
Page Count: 668
Accuracy: The formulas of the witch doctors are 68% accurate, if one can find the ingredients. The medical techniques and formulas of the ancient kingdoms are 55% accurate.
Rough and Ready Rogue’s Aid
Author: Skytt Heckler
Description: Written in exposed invisible ink in Thieves' Cant, is this pocket-sized pamphlet. Cream rag pages are glued into the spine of the papier-mâché cover.
Contents: A guide to rudimentary first aid for those who are subject to incarceration if they are officially treated. Bandage selection and application is covered extensively, with stresses on using whatever is handy, rather than properly clean and medicated bandages. Covers basic bone setting, splint making, and a misleading coverage of antidotes and purgatives to treat poisoning. Coverage deals with damage inflicted from traps, animal bites, rough handling from guards, methods to reduce blood trails left by wounds, and how to stylishly employ various prosthetics for the discerning rogue. Anecdotes are liberally spread throughout the book, and also give some insight in how the medical treatments can also double as disguises, serve as hiding places for loot or tools of the trade, and naturally, various methods to appear injured or disfigured to aid in begging.
Page Count: 26
Accuracy: For first aid treatment, the document is about 40% accurate. For criminal activity the accuracy approaches 88%.
Secrets of Snake Oil
Author: Drave the Weasel
Description: Written in black ink in a guild code, is this modest manuscript. The yellow paper pages are glued into the spine, with a cover of hard leather.
Contents: A work of dubious nature which provides 88 formulas for various snake oils, fantastic elixirs, and wonder tonics. Primarily concentrates on the grifting aspect of selling snake oils. However, while many of the formula present are completely useless placebos or harmless love philters, useful basic tinctures, medicinal spirits, alchemical elixirs, and aphrodisiacs are covered. Somewhat useful is the coverage of distilling alcoholic spirits, though geared more toward moonshining than producing quality beverages.
Page Count: 24
The Physician's Practice
Author: Doctor Emeritus Alcir
Description: Vellumn pages are sewn into the spine with silk to the silk stretched over thin wood cover. A great codex written in black ink in Old High Common. The original contents of the book have been bleached out and written over.
Contents: A detailed account of the practices of physicians, includes the basics of diagnosing their patients by close examination of their blood, urine and stools, and determined their complexion or balance of humours.. Also includes the hypocritic oath, as well as ethical and legal considerations for the practicing physician, covering payment plans, dealing with nobility & royalty, and the need for confidentiality (particularly concerning the practice of abortion).
Page Count: 384
Accuracy: 50% on the medical side, this document is accurate to 75% on the economic, legal, and political material.
The Necromancer’s Guide to Corpses
Author: Nightarc the Warped
Description: Written in blood instead of ink in Magical Symbols, is this thick grimoire. Dried skin pages are sewn into the spine with twisted gut to the bone cover. The covers are capped with metal corner pieces and the book is wrapped in a velvet cloth.
Contents: This gruesome grimoire extensively details the anatomy of all the major humanoid races, complete with many illustrations and detailed identification of all bones, tendons, joints, major organs, as well as exhaustive coverage of skin, muscle and fat condition of the body. Unfortunately, it also includes instruction in selecting bodies for creating undead, with macabre examples of how to choose “the best specimen” based on the needs of the necromancer. (Ironically, this also includes enough information on selecting “healthy” specimens which need to be turned into corpses before being processed that it serves as a primer on prognosis of patient health.)
Page Count: 516
Accuracy: 78% accurate with regards to necromancy, 86% accurate for purposes of anatomy.
The Chirurgeon’s Cut
Description: Covered in corroded gold, the ochre rag paper pages are sewn into leather thongs which are laced together. Printed in black ink in Dwarven, is this modest manuscript.
Contents: A surgery guide, selection and care of surgery implements (scalpels & lancets), how to make precise incisions, suturing, and lithotomy. While anatomy is covered, without the annotated version (which covers grave-robbing in order to obtain anatomical sources of knowledge), it is very basic.
Page Count: 256
Accuracy: 68% accurate for regular versions, climbing to 76% accurate for annotated versions.
The Crowner’s Guide to Embalming, Mummification and Taxidermy
Author: Hesradas Wolfweaver
Description: Papyrus pages are glued into the spine to the thin wood cover. The moderate volume is printed in Common, with black ink.
Contents: Embalming covers confirming the condition of the deceased as dead, cleaning the corpse, suturing orifices, and replacing the vital fluids of the body with embalming fluid (as well as the preparation of various embalming fluids). Anatomy, Chirurgery, and suturing are the major areas of interest, although the preparation of various fluids and cleansers will be of interest to the apothecary, and the grooming section will be fo considerable interest to the barber.
Mummification is an advanced process of embalming, in which the corpse's vital organs (some or all) are removed, then the body is dehydrated through one of several processes (salting, smoking, or freezing), cleaned and then wrapped in bandages. Anatomy and hygiene are the major foci, while bandaging is more symbolic than restorative. Additionally, the various formula for cleansers, dehydrating agents, embalming fluids, and resinous preservatives are useful to the apothecary.
Taxidermy, unlike embalming or mummification, does not seek to preserve the body of corpse, but rather, display the corpse in an imitation of life. Treatment of corpses with this method covers only the very basics in anatomy (skin and hair covering and skeletal structure), but does include skinning, some prosthetic treatment (primarily glass eyes and false teeth), as well as the creation of cleansers and preservatives, in addition to tanning agents.
Page Count: 242
Accuracy: 88% accurate in it's given field, while only about 46% is of use to healers.
The Practical Poisoner
Author: Rhyant Foulbolt
Description: The sizeable treatise is written in a cryptic code, with silver ink. Black paper pages are bound with metal rings to the snakeskin cover. In addition, the covers have runes carved around their edges and there is a picture of a dagger on the cover.
Contents: This useful guide contains an exhaustive collection of 333 poisons, formula for poisons, antidotes, methods for detecting poison, instructions on how to use various poisons, and purgatives. While primarily concentrating on poisonous plants (banes) and venoms, it also includes a few mineral toxins (mercury, some alkaloids, etc.), as well as formulas for binary poisons, poison gasses, poisons used to coat weapons and traps, and a few other useful odds and ends. While primarily intended for more diabolical people, it does have quite a bit of information valuable to a medical practitioner.
Page Count: 99
Accuracy: 90% accurate, however, only about 47% is of use to the physician.
Trepanning and You
Description:Written in black ink in Trade Tongue, is this slim work. Covered in deerhide, the rag paper pages are bound with twine to wooden boards. Ink stains mar the features of the book and the book is in a locked case.
Contents: A badly written manuscript covering the art of trepanning. Included are details on the various drills, braces, and saws to be used, as well as the trephine (a specialized tool for cutting round pieces out of a skull). There is a list of cures to be effected by trepanning, primarily to cure seizures, head pains, and mental conditions, as well reducing damage from head wounds and instructions on removing bone and other fragments, as well as creating prosthetic replacements for removed skull pieces. Also included are some basic formula for astringents, blood-clotting agents, a few antiseptics, as well as curatives used to treat the injuries and afflictions. Additionally, bandaging is also covered.
Page Count: 34
Xenodochium of the Deranged
Author: Zelroth the Unsound
Description: Printed in black ink in the broken argot of the insane, is this voluminous codex. Vellum pages are bound with twine to wooden boards to the semi-precious stones glued to thin wood cover.
Contents: A chronicle of the treatment of various insane people. This work contains 127 accounts of various mental disorders and various attempts to treat them. Included are phobias, schizoprenia, manic depression, delusions, bipolar disorders, nymphomania, pyromania, kleptomania, narcissism, megalomania, insomnia, Tourette's Syndrome, Munchausen syndrome, mental retardation, paranoia, alcoholism, drug addiction, autism, psychosis, hallucinations, psychopathy and sociopathy.
Page Count: 1128