An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Fever; Experiments On the Red and Quill Peruvian Bark

Two very scarce 1785 first edition medical works, discussing the causes of fevers, and the potential medicinal properties of Peruvian bark. Two very scarce first edition works, bound together.Present here are the 1785 first editions of Caleb Dickinson's 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Fever', and Ralph Irving's vanishingly scarce 'Experiments on the Red and Quill Peruvian bark'.Caleb Dickinson's work examines the nature and cause of fever, with chapters devoted to: Character, Division, Phaenomena, Remote Causes, Difference and Cause, Prognosis, Proximate Cause, and Cure.Dickinson synthesises existing information of fever, summarising prevailing knowledge, specifically that taught at the University of Edinburgh at the time. He places emphasis on discussion of putrefaction within the body.ESTC T007250. With three pages of advertisements to the rear.A2, B-M8, N6Irving's work discusses the medicinal application of Peruvian bark, which was widely used in the 17th and 18th centuries for its effectiveness in treating fevers - particularly malaria - due to the presence of quinine.He conducted experiments on cinchona bark, commonly known as Peruvian bark, discussing experiments that examine its effects on both animals and humans. Irving discusses the chemical composition of the bark, discussing how its components interact with the body to alleviate symptoms.ESTC T130849. With three pages of advertisements to the rear.[2], A-Z4 [1]Rebacked in morocco, with original calf boards restored, retaining original endpapers.Former owner's inscription of Charles Thomson to front free endpaper, with crossed out inscription to volume I title page head, and nineteenth century inscription to head of leaf B1, volume I.Collated, complete.Two fascinating and very scarce works of medical inquiry. Rebacked in morocco, retaining the original calf boards, and original endpapers. Externally, smart, but with loss to head of fore egde of rear board. Losses of paper to pastedowns, with significant loss of paper to head of rear free endpaper, and significant restoration to head of front free endpaper. Inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages significantly age toned. Inscription to head of volume I front free endpaper, and head of leaf B1 of volume I. Loss to head of contents leaf of vol I. Significant tide marks to first forty pages of volume I, and to final twenty-five pages of volume II. Losses to fore edges of pages 99-102 of volume I, affecting a few words of text to each page. Spotting and light handling marks throughout. Tide marks to fore edges of gatherings N-M, and Z of volume II. Good Only.…