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Early nineteenth-century manuscript notes kept by a hospital doctor, [c 1818-1820]

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1848/23-0184

Scope and Contents

This is a doctor's manuscript casebook, recording his practice among the urban poor in the South East District of an unidentified city (probably Glasgow).

In an "Introduction", the author explains that he began recording cases "at the time Typhus Fever was so prevalent in this town and neighbourhood" (the name of the town is not given, but it is probably in Scotland given the recurrence of names such as "Baird", "Stirling", "McLachlan" and "McFadyen"). He continues that his notes "were merely intended to be memoranda of any particular symptom, or any morbid appearance, which might occur in the course of my practice among the sick Poor in South East District of the city". He subsequently encountered "so many very interesting cases of other descriptions, that I was induced, for my own after benefit, to include them also".

There is a table of "Contents" on p.7 (strictly speaking, an index), which lists entries alphabetically under "Disease" (from "Abscess" to "Vomica"), with columns for "Name" (of the patient – often several per disease) and "Page". In the entries themselves, patients’ details usually include their name in the case of men, or their husband’s name in the case of women (unless they are widowed, in which case "Widow –"). Children are referred to by the parent’s name. Occupations are only occasionally recorded.

Dates

  • Creation: [c 1818-1820]

Language of Materials

English

Physical Description

Octavo (165 x 106 x 26 mm). 9, [1], 293, [1]. Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, rebacked with remains of original spine laid down.

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Extent

1 notebook

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in March 2023. Accession no. SC-Acc-2023-0184.

Physical Description

Octavo (165 x 106 x 26 mm). 9, [1], 293, [1]. Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, rebacked with remains of original spine laid down.

Processing Information

Catalogued by Aline Brodin in March 2024, using information provided by the seller.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379