GUILLOTIN JOSEPH-IGNACE: (1738-1814) French Physician, Politician & Freemason who, in 1789, proposed the use of the ...

GUILLOTIN JOSEPH-IGNACE: (1738-1814) French Physician, Politician & Freemason who, in 1789, proposed the use of the guillotine as a device to carry out death penalties in France.
Manuscript D.S., Guillotin, one page, 4to, Paris, 24th January 1796, in French. The document is a medical prescription and states, in full, 'Take a quart of scrag of mutton and half a dozen turnips; put in a pint of water; boil at low heat until the turnips are cooked, then remove the turnips and mutton and let dissolve. Manna en sorte [flake or common manna] one ounce. Then pass it through a linen. You must drink the broth hot, in the morning, with an empty stomach, glass by glass, every half an hour, until all is finished'. Signed and dated at the conclusion. With a small slim 12mo French newspaper clipping announcing the death of Guillotin neatly affixed at the foot of the document. Some light overall foxing and with slightly irregularly trimmed edges, otherwise about VGIt is unclear which ailment the present prescription would alleviate, however turnips are a very good source of anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre and have been cultivated as staple food since ancient Greek and Roman periods.Guillotin proposed the use of the device known as a guillotine on 10th October 1789 as a less painful method of carrying out death penalties by execution in France. The apparatus, with which Guillotin's name has become eponymous, was particularly used during the French Revolution, where it was celebrated as the people's avenger by supporters of the Revolution and vilified as the pre-eminent symbol of the Reign of Terror by opponents. One of the most famous individuals to be executed by guillotine was Marie Antoinette, Queen consort of the French, on 16th October 1793.