Details
HUNTER, John (1728-1793). Treatise on the Venereal Disease. London: n.p. [privately printed for the author at 13 Castle-Street], 1786.
4o (258 x 209 mm). 7 engraved plates by William Sharp after drawings by William Bell (occasional foxing to text and plates, some offsetting from plates). 19th-century quarter morocco (some light rubbing). Provenance: E.G. Graham Little (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. Venereal diseases were thought to be caused by a single poison. Hunter, testing this theory, used gonorrhea matter from a patient who also had syphilis, thus reaching false conclusions. "Backed by the weight of his authority, this experiment retarded the development of knowledge regarding the two diseases" (Garrison-Morton). The first book to be printed at Hunter's private press at Castle Street, an attempt to avoid unauthorized versions of his works. Garrison-Morton 2377; Heirs of Hippocrates 969; Norman 1117; Osler 1227; Waller 4998; Wellcome III, p.317.
[With:] HUNTER, John. "On the Digestion of the Stomach after Death." Extract from: Phil. Trans., 62: 447-454. London, 1772. Small 4o. Modern wrappers. The first discussion of the subject by Hunter. Garrison-Morton 2277.
[With:] OTTLEY, Drewry. The Life of John Hunter. Philadelphia, 1839. 8o. Contemporary half calf. (3)
4
FIRST EDITION. Venereal diseases were thought to be caused by a single poison. Hunter, testing this theory, used gonorrhea matter from a patient who also had syphilis, thus reaching false conclusions. "Backed by the weight of his authority, this experiment retarded the development of knowledge regarding the two diseases" (Garrison-Morton). The first book to be printed at Hunter's private press at Castle Street, an attempt to avoid unauthorized versions of his works. Garrison-Morton 2377; Heirs of Hippocrates 969; Norman 1117; Osler 1227; Waller 4998; Wellcome III, p.317.
[With:] HUNTER, John. "On the Digestion of the Stomach after Death." Extract from: Phil. Trans., 62: 447-454. London, 1772. Small 4
[With:] OTTLEY, Drewry. The Life of John Hunter. Philadelphia, 1839. 8