The official presentation of the book Vademecum will take place on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at 17:00. This work is a manuscript written by Dr. José Vicente Estigarribia, personal physician to Paraguay’s Supreme Leader Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. The presentation will take place at the Experimental Centre for Medicinal Resources in Itacurubí de la Cordillera, about two hours from Asunción, in the Department of Cordillera.
The presentation of the Vademecum book (a handbook or guide that is kept constantly at hand for consultation), published by ServiLibro, will be given by Nelson García and Fanny Álvarez de García. They participated in the compilation of the manuscript and will guide the audience through its historical and scientific content.
The event will also offer attendees the opportunity to sample infusions made from medicinal plants grown in the Experimental Center’s nursery. Books will be available for purchase throughout the day. The organisers emphasise that it will be a unique afternoon, allowing visitors to learn about Paraguayan history, science, and traditional medicine.
What is Vademecum about?
The Vademecum compiles Dr. Estigarribia’s knowledge and experiments on medicinal plants and other natural resources. He carefully documented his research over decades. According to the compilers, the book offers valuable testimony to the medical and botanical practices of Paraguay.
A Vademecum is the ultimate pocket-sized companion for anyone mastering a new craft. Derived from the Latin for “go with me,” it traditionally refers to a concise manual or handbook kept close at hand for instant consultation. People most often hear the term in medical circles to describe a pharmacological guide. However, its utility stretches far beyond the pharmacy.
An encyclopedia and a Vademecum differ primarily in their scope and portability. An encyclopedia is designed to be a comprehensive, exhaustive collection of information covering a vast array of topics. Essentially, the encyclopedia is the library of knowledge, whereas the Vademecum is the toolbox.
Additional read: Oremba’e: A Digital Library Reviving Paraguay’s Forgotten Poetic Treasures.
