The Notorious Astrological Physician of London: Works and Days of Simon Forman Book

You find some weird stuff at the library. I picked this up with little idea of what to expect. Despite the book assuming you already know something about Simon Forman, I had no idea who he was and if I should care.

But know I now. And I do care.

Forman was an unlicensed physician, an 'Empirick', of London practicing into the start of 1600s, and a contemporary of John Dee. His collection of medical consultations is one of the earliest known in western medicine, and this book examines daily London life by breaking down Forman's caseload.

I love how the 17th century College of Physicians weren't upset that Forman used astrology to guide medical treatment, but instead took issue that he did not understand astrology well enough. This book makes a somewhat sympathetic case for Forman's practice despite being unlicensed and often jailed and fined for continuing to work. The early College had far few licenses, not enough to met the needs of a large metropolis, and the book wonders at the dismissive attitude of the College when Forman is able to pass the Cambridge medical licensing exam later on with apparent ease. His notoriety begins several years after his death during a murder trial.

Forman seems to have had a very interesting career and I appreciate all the hard work the author has done to bring Forman's story into the modern day, using both his own words (he left a considerable amount, though often appearing an unreliable narrator) and other secondary sources.