Facets

1845 –1854

#7769

The viviparous quadrupeds of North America. 2 vols. of plates in folio; 3 vols. 8vo text.

The largest and most significant color plate book produced in America during the 19th century.

1845

#9556

The sanitary condition of the laboring population of New York with suggestions for its improvement.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1846

#5651

Insensibility during surgical operations produced by inhalation.

William T. G. Morton used ether as an anesthetic for the first time on 16 October 1846 during at operation by John Collins Warren to remove a benign angioma under the jaw of a patient at Massachusetts General Hospital…

1847

#7602

A descriptive catalogue of the Anatomical Museum of the Boston Society for Medical Improvement.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1847

#8545

Medical botany: or, Descriptions of the more important plants used in medicine, with their history, properties, and mode of administration.

The author intended to update and correct the earlier works on American materia medica by Barton, Bigelow and Rafinesque, and to make this information available at a reasonable price. Digital facsimile from the Biodiv…

1847

#10063

Proceedings of the National Medical Conventions, held in New York, May, 1846, and in Philadelphia, May, 1847.

The complete proceedings of the founding of the American Medical Association. This version also contains the text of the Code of Ethics written by Isaac Hayes and adopted by the AMA. In updated forms, this remains the…

1847 –1847

#10336

Southern ichthyology; or a description of the fishes inhabiting the waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Pt. 2, 1847, Pt. 3, 1848.

Holbrook never published part one of this work.

1848

#10056

Code of ethics of the American Medical Association. Adopted May 1847.

Heavily influenced by Percival's work, the AMA's code of ethics was written by Isaac Hayes. The first leaf of this 30-page pamphlet indicates that it was "Printed for Private Distribution by the Philadelphia Delegatio…

1849

#10110

Physician and patient; or, a practical view of the mutual duties, relations and interests of the medical profession and the community.

"During this era of rampant sectarianism in medicine, doctors frequently became dishonest or abusive as they competed for patients. To deal with this situation, the American Medical Association adopted [in 1847] a cod…

1850

#1609

Report of a general plan for the promotion of public and personal health, devised, prepared, and recommended by the commissioners appointed under a resolve of the legislature of Massachusetts relating to a sanitary survey of the State.

Compiled by a team, but entirely written by Shattuck, this report was the first general blueprint for the promotion of public health presented to an American governmental body. Its first proposal was for the creation …

1850 –1854

#1777

A systematic treatise, historical, etiological, and practical, on the principal diseases of the interior valley of North America as they appear in the Causcasian, African, Indian, and Esquimaux varieties of Its population. 2 vols.

This classical contribution to the social / medical history of North America includes the most important work on the natural history of malaria published up to that time. Digital facsimile of vol. 1 from the Internet …

1850

#10295

An historical sketch of the state of medicine in the American Colonies, from their first settlement to the period of the Revolution.

A pioneering historical interpretation of the development of medicine in the 13 colonies up to the American Revolution. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link. This is the second, significantly expan…

1850

#10426

Diary of a physician in California; being the results of actual experience, including notes of the journey by land and water, and observations on the climate, soil, resources of the country, etc.

Tyson sailed from Baltimore for California in January 1849, crossing the Isthmus and sailing on to San Francisco. His book recounts his 1849 tour of the Northern Mines in search of a likely place for his medical pract…

1850 –1851

#10517

Southern medical reports: Consisting of general and special reports, on the medical topography, meteorology, and prevalent diseases, in the following states: Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas. Edited by E. D. Fenner. 2 vols.

Regarding Fenner see, John Duffy, "Erasmus Darwin Fenner (1807–1866) Journalist, Educator, and Sanitarian," Academic Medicine. 35 (1960) 819-831. Digital facsimile of the 1850-51 edition from the Internet Archive at t…

1850

#11306

Constitution, by-laws and fee bill of the San Francisco Medical Society: Organized June 22, 1850.

This 8-page pamphlet is one of the earliest separate publications relating to medicine printed in the State of California. The "Society" disbanded shortly after this was published, perhaps over disputes concerning the…

1851

#10102

History of medical education and institutions in the United States: From the first settlement of the British colonies to the year 1850; with a chapter on the present condition and wants of the profession, and the means necessary for supplying those wants, and elevating the character and extending the usefulness of the whole profession.

Davis instrumental in the establishment of the American Medical Association and was twice elected its president. He became the first editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association. He was a founder of the C…

1851

#10416

Ladies' indispensable assistant: Being a companion for the sister, mother, and wife ... Here are the very best directions for the behavior and etiquette of ladies and gentlemen ... ; also, safe directions for the management of children ... a great variety of valuable recipes, forming a complete system of family medicine ... : to which is added one of the best systems of cookery ever published ....

In spite of the verbose title, the Table of Contents of this work indicates that roughly the first half of the book concerns home remedies for the widest range of complaints and illnesses, and medical properties of pl…

1851

#12086

Observations on the medical topography and diseases (especially diarrhoea) of the Sacramento Valley, California, during the Years 1849, 1850.

Stillman was personal physician to Leland Stanford, the first governor of California, and was a partner of railroad magnate Mark Hopkins from their days on board a ship to California in 1849. Stillman was also co-foun…

1854

#9116

On the construction, organization and general arrangements of hospitals for the insane.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1854

#10130

On the medicinal and toxicological properties of the cryptogamic plants of the United States.

Separate edition: New York: Baker, Godwin & Co, 1854. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1854

#10404

Voyage médical en Californie.

Translated into English by L. Jay Oliva, introduced and annotated by Doyce B. Nunis, Jr. as A medical journey in California (Los Angeles: Zeitlin & Ver Brugge, 1967).

1855

#5454.2

Yellow fever, considered in its historical, pathological, etiological, and therapeutical relations: including a sketch of the disease as it has occurred in Philadelphia from 1699 to 1854, with an examination of the connections between it and the fevers known under the same name in other parts of temperate, as well as in tropical, regions. 2 vols.

The most important 19th century American monograph on yellow fever. La Roche’s work sketched the disease in its appearances from 1699 to 1854 at Philadelphia, which saw some of the worst yellow fever epidemics, and pr…

1855

#10103

History of the American Medical Association, from its organization up to January, 1855. To which is appended biographical notices, with portraits of the presidents of the association, and of the author

The first history of the American Medical Association, founded in 1847, written by one of its chief founders. Digital facsimile from Hathi Trust at this link.

1856

#7875

Illustrations of the birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America. Intended to contain descriptions and figures of North American birds not given by former American authors, and a general synopsis of North American ornithology. 1853 to 1855.

Originally issued in ten parts from 1853 to 1855. Cassin ran an engraving and lithographing firm in Philadelphia, which produced illustrations for government and scientific publications. He pursued ornithology as an a…

1856

#12319

Anatomical and surgical lectures.

A one-page advertising circular dated December 10, 1856 advertising Cooper's first course of private lectures in San Francisco. Cooper, founder of California’s (and the West Coast’s) first medical school, came to San …

1856

#14125

Glances and glimpses; or fifty years social, including twenty years professional life.

The autobiography of the first woman to practice medicine professionally in the United States. Digital facsimile from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

1857 –1877

#333

Contributions to the natural history of the United States. 5 vols.

Vols. 1-4 by Louis Agassiz were published from 1857-1862; Vol. 5, North American starfishes by Alexander Agassiz, appeared in 1877. Louis Agassiz was, for his time, the leading comparative anatomist in America and a v…

1857

#7470

Catalogue raisoneé of the medical library of the Pennsylvania Hospital.

Listing 10,500 items, the library of the Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1763, was undoubtedly the largest hospital library in the United States in 1857, and possibly the largest medical library in America. The firs…

1857

#8825

Indigenous races of the earth; or new chapters of ethnological enquiry: Including monographs on special departments of philology, iconography, cranioscopy, palaeontology, pathology, archaeology, comparative geography and natural history: Contributed by Alfred Maury, Francis Pulszky, and J. Aiken Meigs. With contributions from Jos. Leiden and L. Agassiz. Presenting fresh investigations by J. C. Nott and Geo. R. Glidden.

Expensively produced, and sold in both standard and large paper subscriber editions, Nott and Gliddon's work was one of the most egregiously racist publications in the history of physical anthropology. Nott, a promine…

1857

#8829

Catalogue of human crania, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: Based upon the third edition of Dr. Morton's "Catalogue of Skulls," &c.

"Since the death of the late lamented President of the Academy of Natural Sciences,- Dr. Samuel George Morton,- his magnifcent Collection of Human Crania, recently increased by the receipt of 67 skulls from various so…

1857

#10427

Der Staat Californien in medicinisch-geographischer Hinsicht.

Dr. Praslow practiced medicine in San Francisco from 1849-1856, after which he returned to Germany. His book provides information concerning health and epidemics in San Francisco during this early period. Translated i…

1857 –1859

#10514

Report on the United States and Mexican boundary survey: Made under the direction of the secretary of the Interior

Vol. 1, pt. by W. H. Emory. Vol. 1, pt. 2: Geological reports by C.C. Parry and Arthur Schott, notes by W. H. Emory; Paleontology and geology of the boundary by James Hall; Description of cretaceous and tertiary fossi…

1857

#12322

Report of an operation for removing a foreign body from beneath the heart. Published by the San Francisco County Medico Chirurgical Association as an additional paper to its Transactions for the year 1857.

Perhaps the earliest separate publication on a surgical operation issued in California.

1858

#9312

Notes on the surgery of the war in the Crimea, with remarks on the treatment of gunshot wounds.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link. Reprinted in Richmond, Virginia in 1862 during the American Civil War for the Confederate States Army by J. W. Randolph; digital facsimile of the Richmond edition from…

1858

#12152

Diphtheritis: A concise historical and critical essay on the late epidemic pseudo-membranous sore throat of California (1856-7), with a few remarks illustrating the diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of the disease.

For publishing this 46-page pamphlet Fourgeaud has been called "California's first medical historian." Digital facsimile from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

1859

#11304

Report on the medical topography and epidemics of California.

Logan provided an updated report with the same title in 1865. Digital facsimile of the 1865 report from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

1860

#4422

A new instrument for the treatment of fractures of the lower extremity.

Smith devised an anterior or suspensatory splint for use in the treatment of fractures of the femur. The apparatus was heavily used during the U.S. Civil War and was especially valuable in treating compound fractures.

1860

#10337

Ichthyology of South Carolina. Vol. 1 (All Published).

Digital facsimile from BnF Gallica at this link.

1860

#10495

Illustrated wholesale catalogue of surgical and dental instruments, elastic trusses, medical saddle bags, abdominal supporters, shoulder braces and druggists sundries, offered by Snowden & Brother.

Snowden & Brother provided an excellent selection of the exact types of equipment used by the Union Army during the Civil War. Facsimile reprint, with John Weiss & Son 1863 catalogue, with a new introduction by James …

1861

#7735

Handbook for the military surgeon: Being a compendium of the duties of the medical officer in the field, the sanitary management of the camp, the preparation of food, etc.; with forms for the requisitions for supplies, returns, etc.; the diagnosis and treatment of camp dysentery; and all the important points in war surgery: Including gunshot wounds, amputation, wounds of the chest, abdomen, arteries and head, and the use of chloroform.

Digital facsimile of second edition (1861) from Google Books at this link.

1861

#7811

A manual of military surgery: for the use of surgeons in the Confederate army: with an appendix of the rules and regulations of the medical department of the Confederate army.

Digital facsimile from the U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

1861

#7814

A treatise on gun-shot wounds: written for and dedicated to the surgeons of the Confederate States Army.

Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

1861

#7815

A manual of military surgery: or, hints on the emergencies of field, camp and hospital practice.

Digital facsimile of the second edition (1862) from the Hathi Trust at this link. Notably in 1862 this small work written for Union surgeons was reprinted in Richmond, Virginia for the use of Confederate surgeons. The…

1861

#7867

A manual of etherization: Containing directions for the employment of ether, chloroform, and other anaesthetic agents, by inhalation, in surgical operations, Intended for military and naval surgeons, and all who may be exposed to surgical operations, with Instructions for the preparation of ether and chloroform, and for testing them for Impurities. comprising, also, a brief history of the discovery of anaesthesia.

Jackson's most detailed exposition of anesthesia, including a summary of the early history of its discovery, written for American Civil War physicians and surgeons. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this …

1862

#2166.1

Notes on arrow wounds.

The definitive work on American Indian arrow wounds suffered by U. S. troops and settlers in frontier warfare during the Western expansion of the United States. Bill eventually developed a "Forceps for the Extraction …

1862

#7737

The hospital steward's manual; for the instruction of hospital stewards, wardmasters, and attendants, in their several duties; prepared in strict accordance with existing regulations and the customs of service in the armies of the United States of America, and rendered authoritative by order of the Surgeon-General.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Arhive at this link.

1862

#7817

Regulations for the Medical Department of the C. S. Army.

Electronic edition from unc.edu, Documenting the American South, at this link.

1862

#10440

Chinese immigration and the physiological causes of the decay of a nation.

Medical justification for racism, racial prejudice, and xenophobia in its purest sense. The author, a physician, also published several works of conventional medicine. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at th…

1863

#1865.1

Resources of the southern fields and forests, medical, economical, and agricultural: Being also a medical botany of the Confederate States; with practical information on the useful properties of the trees, plants and shrubs.

The first extensive treatise on the botany of the Southern States of the US and the only Confederate manual of materia medica. This is also a manual of “survival information”, teaching how live off the land and how to…

1863

#7419

Hospital sketches.

Digital facsimile of the 1863 edition from the Internet Archive at this link. Alcott expanded the work for the edition of 1869. Edited, with an extensive introduction by Bessie Z. Jones (Cambridge: Harvard University …