Handbook of emergencies and common ailments. Explaining the latest approved treatment of injuries, sudden and painful attacks, poisoning, and many common diseases

Boston: B.B. Russell, 1892. FIRST EDITION. With 7 plates and numerous text illustrations. Publisher’s cloth, title in gilt on front cover and spine; interior very good with only a small stain about the preface. First edition. The author, a practicing physician, has prepared a layperson’s guide to prevention and treatment of sudden injury or illness. Introductory remarks include a very basic explanation of the pulse, respiration, delirium, inflammation, symptoms and signs of fever, and patent medicines. The book treats specific injuries, sudden attacks, painful and longer-term attacks and common ailments, including colds, skin disease, and insomnia, as well as many others. One chapter is devoted to diseases of infancy and childhood. Each of the treatment descriptions are plain-spoken and very straight-forward. Of particular interest is the author’s discussion of what medicines a family might have around the house and their use.

The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries found a number of home remedy and domestic medicine texts that became available to the public, especially as a response to a plethora of quack doctors proclaiming the efficacy of their quack medicines. This work appears to be quite scarce, with OCLC citing 5 copies in America and 1 in Israel.

Bradford (1835-1904) received his medical degree at Harvard, and practiced at Mechanic Falls in Maine.

Cordasco 90-0628.