Pictures of Nursing

Observations on such nutritive vegetables as may be substituted in the place of ordinary food, ..., 1783

Despite the title of this work, Parmentier's discussion on "nutritive vegetables" is mainly limited to one root vegetable: the potato. Originally printed in France during a time of famine, Observations describes the incredible versatility of the potato, which can be used to make bread, biscuits, and flour, amongst other foodstuffs. At the time, the French generally did not consider potatoes fit for human consumption.

Courtesy National Library of Medicine