A treatise on the disorders of childhood, and management of infants from the birth, adapted to domestic use
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- London: J. Mathews, 1801
London: J. Mathews, 1801. SECOND EDITION. Some lovely woodcut vignettes and tailpieces. Contemporary tree calf, rebacked, marbled edges; interior generally excellent. Second edition, expanded from the first printing of 1797. A somewhat abridged edition of his Treatise on the diseases of children (London, 1784) which was considered the authoritative standard on pediatrics. This book not only includes the latest discoveries and methods of treatment but is a more focused work covering any and all potential health issues that may arise in birth and childhood. Instead of simple lists of illnesses and remedies, Underwood creates a practical arrangement here which assumes to a certain extent the chronological order in which medical events may arise. Also included here are sections on accidents and minor injuries that may occur in earlier periods of childhood.
Underwood includes an extensive part on the nature and properties of human milk, which was his clear preference. His baby formula, consisting of boiled cow’s milk and barley water, is the era’s closest imitation of mother’s milk. He also wrote about conditions like infantile diarrhea, teething problems, and respiratory issues, providing practical advice on how to care for sick infants, which was a novel approach during his time. His work contributed to shifting the focus on children’s health as distinct from adult medicine.
Underwood (1737-1820) was born in Surrey, England. He studied surgery and midwifery, a discipline that included pediatrics as well as obstetrics, in London and Paris. He was highly regarded as a “man-midwife” and attended prominent women of the day. In 1796, Underwood was chosen as accoucheur at the birth of Princess Charlotte of Wales. He was the first physician-accoucheur to be appointed to the Royal College of Physicians in London. Underwood is particularly remembered for providing one of the earliest known descriptions of polio. He refers to an illness affecting infants and young children, which he described as “debility of the lower extremities.” This is widely regarded as one of the first written account of poliomyelitis, although the disease was not fully understood at the time. His superior observation and research skills are largely responsible for the great advancements that followed in nineteenth-century pediatrics.
DNB XX pp.31-32.
Underwood includes an extensive part on the nature and properties of human milk, which was his clear preference. His baby formula, consisting of boiled cow’s milk and barley water, is the era’s closest imitation of mother’s milk. He also wrote about conditions like infantile diarrhea, teething problems, and respiratory issues, providing practical advice on how to care for sick infants, which was a novel approach during his time. His work contributed to shifting the focus on children’s health as distinct from adult medicine.
Underwood (1737-1820) was born in Surrey, England. He studied surgery and midwifery, a discipline that included pediatrics as well as obstetrics, in London and Paris. He was highly regarded as a “man-midwife” and attended prominent women of the day. In 1796, Underwood was chosen as accoucheur at the birth of Princess Charlotte of Wales. He was the first physician-accoucheur to be appointed to the Royal College of Physicians in London. Underwood is particularly remembered for providing one of the earliest known descriptions of polio. He refers to an illness affecting infants and young children, which he described as “debility of the lower extremities.” This is widely regarded as one of the first written account of poliomyelitis, although the disease was not fully understood at the time. His superior observation and research skills are largely responsible for the great advancements that followed in nineteenth-century pediatrics.
DNB XX pp.31-32.
Details
Title
A treatise on the disorders of childhood, and management of infants from the birth, adapted to domestic use
Author
UNDERWOOD, Michael
Condition
Unknown
Publisher
J. Mathews: London
Date
1801
Edition
SECOND EDITION