The Grabadin was published in the 1623 Venetian anthology. It is a recipe book of the twelfth century from the Arab School attributed to same Pseudo-Mesue (d. 1015) of De simplicibus: it is an antidotary, as translated from the Arabic title and was what these books were called. Successive versions of different medications are compared: electuaries, solutions, decoctions, infusions, poultices, syrups, ointments, oils, pills, and troches (tablets). "In the sixteenth century, there was widespread use of distilled waters for washing hands at banquets as the use of forks was unknown or little-known" (Conci p. 145). Syrups were greatly successful in pharmacies and there were many variations in consistency, e.g. denser in looch or in composition, e.g. with sugar (oxizacchara, roob, julep) or honey (mellitis, oxymel). Decoctions, teas and infusions had expert preparation, little different from those of today, in which the practical knowledge already defined the extraction times suitable for the type of drug. Electuaries were more complex preparations with mixtures of powders of various drugs, thickened with sugar or honey. Many of the electuary names begin with the Greek prefix "dia-" followed by the main ingredient, upon which (dia-) acts, as Diacydonium from quince (Cydonia oblonga). The prince of electuaries was theriac. Oils and ointments are the oldest pharmaceutical forms. In addition to olive oil, oil from almonds and from seeds like hemp, or oils with drugs, either plants like those with thyme or violet, or animal like those with scorpion, a potent diuretic against gallstones (lapides, pietre) "provocat urinam et subtiliat ac frangit lapidem in vesica" (p. 192). The oils were used to make ointments, poultices and plasters (then waxed, because they were made with wax).
For some of the Grabadin recipes, the modern commentator noted "non est in usu" or "frequentissimum est". There were the different names for the medications "vulgo dicitur". Variations were suggested. There was much debate about the identification of the plants: "In his patres nostri magnopere errabant, sylvestris rosae fructum supponentes, tu vero intellige spinam albam, & arabicam" (c. 141r) and the etymology is compared, with, for example, saffron, "Crocus nobis Arabica voce Zahafaran, parum corrupta safran dicitur" (p. 197r). The therapeutic indications are terse, but there is a later book with a different order of presentation, i.e. beginning with the parts of the body, their diseases and the recommended remedies.

The pharmacist had to navigate the ingredients, doses and preparations, in the multitude of the handed-down recipes. At times, the authorities intervened to create order and to prescribe standards through the professional Colleges, which slowly began to form as the work of pharmacists acquired an autonomous profile.
In the 1623 Venetian anthology, Nicholas of Salerno’s Antidotary was also published (fl. 1140). Written at the Salerno School, the Antidotary became a kind of European pharmacopoeia, because Frederick II, through the Constitutions of Melfi in 1231, wished it to be "the regulatory book for physicians and pharmacists" (Conci p. 209), the official collection of recipes: a pharmacopoeia. In the same law, the Emperor recognised the Salerno School as the official training centre of physicians and pharmacists, and it was required in order to practice. The teaching aim was declared at the beginning of the Antidotary: "Ego Nicolaus rogatus a quibusdam in practica medicina studere volentibus... eis tradidi doctrinam" (I, Nicholas, requested by some students who wanted to study the medical practice… I shared the knowledge) (pt. 2, c. 159v). Preparation techniques, prescriptions and administration of the medications adapted to the disease were explained: "doctrinam in qua de singulis usualium medicinarum... conficere scirent, et quantum de unoquoque genere gummarum, herbarum, seminum, et specierum, inter omnem medicinas subscriptas acciperent, eis scilicet in scriptis redigerem, necnon quibus aegritudinibus proprie ipsae medicinae probatae fuerint" (ibid). Compositions included plant and animal ingredients (honey, deer antlers, corals, sea horses, vipers, and mummies) and minerals (diamonds, gold, silver, amber, and magnet). For each ingredient, there was an explanation of the qualities, the parts to collect, their storage, and preparation techniques. The medications were listed in alphabetical order with the traditional name of the recipe, including Athanasia (id est immortalis), more useful in stopping haemorrhage than for immortality, and Antimoron (contra mortem), a painkiller, Evangelon (id est nuntium bonum) febrifuge, Diacamereon (i. ducens hominem de morte ad vitam), Electuarium laetificans, Catharticum Imperiale (idest laxativum pro imperatoribus), a laxative which, while good enough for emperors, may also benefit more delicate men, especially the obese, "pro aliis delicatis hominibus et praecipue pinguibus hominibus". The ingredients of the prescription include Mithridate and Theriac. An updated explanation follows each recipe. For its administration, an appropriate time is suggested, in the morning or evening, before or after lunch or dinner, and the method of use, often with hot wine, or in a decoction, or in snuff, or inhalation during a hot bath. The soporific sponge anaesthetic came from the Salerno School’s treatment practices.