Commonplace book, undated. Digital
Scope and Contents
Contains descriptions of organs and fluids, most likely transcribed from a medical text. There is one section on phthisis pulmonatis, or pulmonary consumption, and its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Includes patient case histories, such as a man who was bled and given a bolus of sal nitre, camphor, and calomel, and a syrup containing digitalis. No improvement was seen, and he was then given columbo root and Mucquett root, bark, wine, and balsalm of tolu. It is unclear if the man was a patient of Hastings. Other entries contain notes on the opinions of Dr. Samuel Simmons of London on the types of consumption and their treatment, and recipes from Dr. James Adair for stomach ailments. The back cover is inscribed with a letter of recommendation "to the publick," unsigned, for Luther Guitteau, attesting he has practiced medicine for four years.
Dates
- Creation: 1799-1830,
Language of Materials
Collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Access requires advance notice. Contact Public Services for further information.
Extent
0.31 cubic feet (1 letter size document box and one half legal size document box)Creator
- From the Collection: Hastings, Seth, 1745-1830. (Person)
- From the Collection: Hastings, Seth, 1780-1861. (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Center for the History of Medicine (Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine) Repository
The Center for the History of Medicine in the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine is one of the world's leading resources for the study of the history of health and medicine. Our mission is to enable the history of medicine and public health to inform healthcare, the health sciences, and the societies in which they are embedded.