Family medical handbook: Works entitled “Aristotle’s Masterpiece” were family health guides, written in the vernacular, offering practical remedies and advice for life cycle care, sexual relations, prenatal care, birthing and midwifery, hygiene and health. This particular edition is entitled, “The Works of Aristotle... containing the Complete Masterpiece.” Aristotle’s “masterpiece” is the human being; the text bears no relation to Aristotle’s writings. Such works were popular through the 18th and 19th centuries, usually printed in affordable, compact, sparsely illustrated editions.