An introductory lecture, delivered at the Massachusetts Medical College, November 3, 1847

Boston: William D. Ticknor & Company, 1847. FIRST EDITION. Original printed wrappers, spine chipped, top wrapper detached. Ink stamp of the Rhode Island Historical Society to top wrapper and title. Presentation inscription from Usher Parsons on wrapper. First edition, second or third state of wrapper, with the publisher’s advertisements printed on the bottom wrapper. Holmes gave this lecture to the medical class of Harvard University.

Usher Parsons (1788-1868) began his career as a naval surgeon. After retiring from the Navy, he was professor of anatomy at Dartmouth, professor of anatomy and surgery at Brown University, became president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and served as the first vice-president of the American Medical Association. BAL, 8746; C&T, p. 40; Osler, 2991.