Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of New-York for the year 1825, together with the Annual Address by Alexander Coventry, M.D., President of the Society
Albany: E. & E. Hosford, 1825.
Wraps. Good. Approx. 5-1/4 x 8-1/4", disbound from a larger volume (lacking the orignal wraps?); pp. [3], 4-63; pages significantly toned, otherwise very good. The "transactions" portion herein are of standard fare, but the President's Address by Dr. Coventry (1785-1831) is another matter altogether. It touches briefly on recent legistation on "Indian" and patent medicines (he's not a fan of either), but its primary focus is "endemic fever," which he hypothesizes is a near-relative of yellow fever; further, he argues against the "contagionists," who theorized throughout the 18th and 19th centuries that the fever was spread by humans. Coventry maintains, from personal observation during the epidemic of 1822, that the actual cause is "putrescence" of the soil and water, and advocates for cleanliness and sanitation as a preventative. The actual yellow-fever culprit (mosquitoes) was not fingered until the end of the 18th century. Still, he was closer than most, though still a man of his time: for treatment he also recommends the judicious application of bleeding, mercury, and tobacco enemas.
Item #20293
Price: $75.00