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8vo. A very important early American medical work in its original 18th-century binding. In this work, which recounts the cataclysmic Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793, which ravaged the entire east coast, particularly Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York, killing more than 5,000 in Philadelphia alone. "During the 1793 Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia, Benjamin Rush, a prominent Founding Father and physician, described the disease's symptoms, progression, and his own aggressive treatment methods in detail. He observed that initial symptoms included fever, fatigue, nausea, and chills, lasting about seven days before improvement in mild cases. However, roughly one in seven patients developed severe illness, marked by bleeding, jaundice, high fever, shock, and organ failure, with recovery rates as low as 30-60%. "Rush's treatments were based on the humoral theory of medicine, which held that illness resulted from imbalances in bodily fluids. He believed purging the body-through aggressive bloodletting, purging, and vomiting-could restore balance and cure the disease Historical Society of Pennsylvania+1. These methods were common among 18th-century physicians but were often ineffective and could worsen the patient's condition. "A notable and controversial aspect of Rush's account was his incorrect attribution of the cause to "miasma" from rotting coffee. In reality, Yellow Fever is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, often introduced via ships from infected regions such as Haiti. His miasma theory reflected the prevailing medical thinking of the time, which could not yet explain vector-borne disease. "Rush's role in the epidemic was significant: he treated thousands of patients, organized medical efforts, and became a symbol of both dedication and the limitations of 18th-century medical science. While some contemporaries criticized his methods, others praised his commitment during one of Philadelphia's darkest hours Historical Society of Pennsylvania." - Mutter Museum Original tree calf. Square tight binding. The front endpaper bears the signature of Judson Daland (1860-1937), an 1882 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and later one of its premier professors. He was a founder of the Philadelphia Institute of Medical Research and its President for a time. Laid in is also a gift inscription on a card signed by Daland, though not addressed to the recipient. The title page bears the signature of Henry Boteler (1728-1814), of Calvert City, Md, a French and Indian War and Revolutionary War officer. Moderate rubbing and edge wear, including a spine where it appears tape was removed at some point giving the spine a different color and texture than the boards. A strip of conservation tape also runs vertically along the front outer spine joint. Some pages lightly tanned. Presents handsomely in a clear, archival mylar dust jacket.
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