Antique 1813 William Buchan Domestic Medicine A Treatise Leather Cover Book

Condition: antique fair to good. Item has yellowing spots, some pencil notes. Otherwise non smoking.

William Buchan studied medicine while at Edinburgh University (he was supposed to be pursuing classes in divinity). He became a physician with a Founding Hospital, and in 1761 wrote his MD dissertation 'On The Preservation of Infant Life'.

The first edition of this work appeared in 1769, and that it was still in print in 1813 in Boston is a testament to its appeal throughout the Western world.

In it Buchan advocates infrequent bathing, arguing that sweat was a sort of antiseptic which provided a 'healthy glow'.

His interest in infant medicine can be seen in his 'Advice to Mothers' in the appendix of this work.

A fascinating relic of 18th century medicine, and its enduring appeal well into the 19t