A Book about Doctors (offered with) The Doctor in History, Literature, Folk-Lore, Etc. (offered with) The doctor in fiction
New York; Hull; Yonkers: Rudd and Carleton; William Andrews & Co.; The Arlington Chemical Co., 1861; 1896; n.d. Three works offered together. 8vo. I: x, 490 pp., plus 2 pages publisher’s advertisements; II: [vi], 287 pp., plus 8 pages of publisher’s advertisement. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. I: Lithographed frontispiece. Publisher’s pebbled cloth, blind-stamped on coves with gilt title and design on spine. A fine copy from the library of Robert J. Moes (1905-1988), a physician and bibliophile who lived in Los Angeles, with his bookplate.
II: With frontispiece and text illustrations. Original gilt decorated cloth (edges and corners rubbed); a few leaves browned, inner joints weakened.
III: Full-page and text illustrations throughout. Original printed wrappers with an illustration of Dr. Weelumi MacLure “Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush” on the front cover; a fine copy. Item #19150
I: The true first American edition, published simultaneously with the first London printing, a satirical exposé of quackery in the form of a series of essays about English doctors. The author tackles both the general medical practice, describing the early English physician, his dress and wig, his dispassionate nature, fees, and the rise of women as physicians, and further tucks into specific, well-loved figures such as Thomas Browne, Kennelm Digby, Hans Soane, John Radcliffe and Richard Mead, among other luminaries. He skewers specific writings of many well-known medical authors throughout history, and the results are actually quite hilarious.
Jeaffreson (1831-1901) was an English novelist and inspector of historical documents. His books did not stop with physicians; he also wrote books about lawyers, the clergy, brides and bridegrooms, and in a rush of genius about “the table.”
II: First edition of this interesting collection of articles on the curious phases of the history, literature, and folklore of the medical profession. Edited by William Andrews, of the Hull Press in Hull, and author of a large number of histories in England.
The writings include Barber-Surgeons; The Gold-Headed Cane; Chaucer’s Doctor of physic; and much more.
III: SUGGESTIVE READING FOR DOCTORS. First printing (?) of a pamphlet containing synopses, with drawings, of the characters in works by Jewett, Howells, Eliot, Stevenson, Dostoevsky, Barrie, etc. These are provided as suggestive reading “of especial interest to Doctors.” Full-page illustrations include Dr. Leslie (The country doctor by Jewett), Dr. Anther (Son of Royal Langbrith by Howells), Dr. Jeckyll (obvious), and Dr. Boekmann (Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge) to name just a few.
Arlington Chemical Company was the maker of Peptonoids (liquid or dry), cure-all for typhoid, adynamia, pneumonia, gastro-intestinal inflammation and other varieties of ailments.
Price: $500.00