Reports on the Diseases in London First Edition - Robert Willan - Bauman Rare Books

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Reports on the Diseases in London

Robert WILLAN

Item#: 82171 We're sorry, this item has been sold

Reports on the Diseases in London

Reports on the Diseases in London

"PREGNANT WITH ORIGINAL AND IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS, ESPECIALLY ON POINTS OF DIAGNOSIS": WILLAN'S REPORTS ON THE DISEASES IN LONDON, 1801

WILLAN, Robert. Reports on the Diseases in London, particularly During the Years 1796, 97, 98, 99, and 1800. London: Printed for R. Phillips, 1801. Small octavo, modern three-quarter light brown calf, raised bands, red morocco spine labels.

First edition of this reportage of the medical conditions in London at the turn of the 19th century, based on Willan's own practice, including both acute and chronic diseases.

"Modern dermatology may be said to start with Willan. His classification of skin diseases gained him the Fothergillian Medal of the Medical Society of London in 1790. He established a standard nomenclature which is still more or less in use today. He was also a clinician of great ability who made numerous original observations" (Garrison & Morton 3985). Willan in "1796 commenced a series of monthly reports containing a brief account of the weather and of the prevalent diseases of the metropolis. These reports were published in the Monthly Magazine, and were continued until 1800, when he collected them into a small volume and published them under the title of Reports on the Diseases of London, 1801. The work is pregnant with original and important observations, especially on points of diagnosis" (DNB). Sir William Osler noted that this volume was "of interest and value. There is nothing better on the diseases of the period" (Bibliotheca Osleriana 4242). Acute diseases include measles, small pox, chicken pox, and fevers; chronic diseases discussed include cough, asthenia, dropsy, epilepsy, dyspepsia, worms, jaundice, hernia, herpes, and lupus. Includes mortality tables and an index.

Occasional scattered light foxing to interior; binding handsome. A fine copy. Scarce.

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Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process; aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however.
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