first edition Modern linen.
1795 / 1796 · London
by Smyth, James C - CONTAGION - MILITARY
London: J Johnson, 1795 / 1796. First Editions.. Modern linen.. A very good copy; first title with an institutional perforation stamp; repair of small section of fold ( no loss).. 8vo, I - viii, iv, [1] - 248 pp.; II - vi, [7] - 75, [1 - blank] pp. + large folding plate of the deck plans of a hospital ship.
A little known but important series of experiments and observations recorded in this pairing. Smyth has received posthumous credit for being the first to successfully overcome infectious contagion among populations of individuals whether they be in prison or the military. In this instance it was the ' jail distemper ' ( typhus ) . The ailment is particularly troublesome to recognize since it has no demonstrative symptoms except perhaps a rash; it therefore remained ill defined until well into the nineteenth century. Smyth was able to come up with a practical solution to halt its spread among populations and for this reason was granted a handsome bounty by the English parliament in 1802. An important pair of publications in the history of infectious disease. DNB XVII, 592-593. (Inventory #: 12005)
A little known but important series of experiments and observations recorded in this pairing. Smyth has received posthumous credit for being the first to successfully overcome infectious contagion among populations of individuals whether they be in prison or the military. In this instance it was the ' jail distemper ' ( typhus ) . The ailment is particularly troublesome to recognize since it has no demonstrative symptoms except perhaps a rash; it therefore remained ill defined until well into the nineteenth century. Smyth was able to come up with a practical solution to halt its spread among populations and for this reason was granted a handsome bounty by the English parliament in 1802. An important pair of publications in the history of infectious disease. DNB XVII, 592-593. (Inventory #: 12005)