An Inaugural Dissertation on the Nature and Origin of Vaccina, or Cow-Pock. Submitted to the Public Examination of the Faculty of Physic under the Authority of the Trustees of Columbia College, in the State of New-York . . . for the Degree of Doctor of Physic. . . . INSCRIBED BY SAMUEL SCOFIELD.

SCOFIELD, Samuel

Published by New York: T. & J. Swords, 1803., 1803

About this Item

x, [11]-69 pp. Stitched, as issued. Original plain front wrapper present but almost all of rear wrapper has been torn away. Stain in upper half of text. Foxed. Worming in blank gutter margin and in blank vertical and bottom margins. Partly unopened. Untrimmed. Good. First Edition. INSCRIBED BY SAMUEL SCOFIELD: "To Benj. R. Robson/ from his friend/ and fellow stu-/ dent./ The author" (on verso of title page; see photo). Austin 1711. Scofield's 1803 dissertation offered here should not be confused with his later book "A Practical Treatise on Vaccina or Cow Pock" (1810). Scofield's dissertation was the third work published by an American on smallpox vaccination, preceded by Benjamin Waterhouse's two-part "Prospect of Exterminating the Smallpox" (1800-02) and John Redman Coxe's "Practical Observations on Vaccination" (1802). "Jenner's work on smallpox vaccination received strong support from Scofield, a physician assigned to the New York City Dispensary and the person responsible for that city's inoculation program" (annotation to Heirs of Hippocrates 1250, citing Scofield's later book "Practical Treatise", published in 1810). ABOUT THE RECIPIENT Benjamin R. Robson: Samuel Scofield dedicated this book to Valentine Seaman, who had been Scofield's teacher (Scofield likewise dedicated his later 1810 book to Seaman). Benjamin R. Robson was also a student of Valentine Seaman, as Scofield's inscription to Robson indicates. "Dr. Robson was born in 1785, studied medicine in the office of Dr. Seaman, and at the age of 19 was elected House Surgeon of the New York Hospital. In 1805, he was appointed by Capt. Minot surgeon on board the ship Samson, and on his return to New York commenced practice there as a physician. For sixty years he was in the constant practice of his profession in New York, and became widely known as a most skillful and careful physician; but about 1865 his sight became impaired, and he was compelled to abandon his active duties, his advice, however, being still sought by many of his brother practitioners in difficult cases. Dr. Robson was one of the incorporators of the New York County Medical Society, in 1808, was for many years its treasurer, and at his decease was the oldest member of the society. In 1813. and for many years subsequently, he held the position of Attending Physician to the New York Dispensary. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, having served as Surgeon to the First Regiment, Third Brigade, under Col. Dodge, and was afterward appointed Surgeon on the staff of Gen. Van Rensselaer, Commander-in-Chief of the veterans of that war" (obituary in The Medical and Surgical Reporter, vol. 39 July-December 1878, p. 242).

Seller Inventory # 13743

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Inaugural Dissertation on the Nature and Origin of Vaccina, or Cow-Pock. Submitted to the Public Examination of the Faculty of Physic under the Authority of the Trustees of Columbia College, in the State of New-York . . . for the Degree of Doctor of Physic. . . . INSCRIBED BY SAMUEL SCOFIELD.
• Publisher: New York: T. & J. Swords, 1803.
• Publication Date: 1803
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)