A Manuscript of Medical Reviews

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0120 MSS.3422, 3423
Held at	: Wellcome Library   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://wellcomelibrary.org/ ›
Full title	: A Manuscript of Medical Reviews
Date(s)	: 1715-1719
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 2 volumes
Name of creator(s)	: Unknown
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The writer has not been identified though he seems to have been at Leyden University, where he studied under Franciscus [Deleböe] Sylvius [1614-1672], who was Professor of Medicine there from 1658 to his death. [Cf. p. 412.] But a careful search through R. W. Innes Smith's 'English-speaking Students of Medicine at the University of Leyden' 1932, has failed to suggest an appropriate name. The author appears to have practised at or near Watford, and on pp. 118*-121* he has an entry on 'Epidemic diseases in and about Watford in 1717'. He also speaks on p. 923 of 'my father [in law?] Berrow': a John Berrow was Vicar of Watford who died in 1713.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

'A Manuscript of Medical Reviews in a new concise and exact Collection from the Ancient and Modern Authors; distinguished ... from all former Collections by the addition of referent marginal letters shewing from what Author any sentence of paragraph is taken; and by figures referring to the prior Authors of matters and points commonly found in some modern Accounts'. The second volume has a title-page (p. 938), 'The Art of Physick. The Principles of Physick or the General Institutions and Fundamentals of that Art; delivered in its proper Method and Division. And with the modern corrections and additions'. There are several indexes, and the manuscript exhibits a very wide knowledge of 17th century medical writings. On the verso of the last leaf of Volume II is an inscription 'All my Observations and most extraordinary Medicines are posted to this Book from my Day Book and from the Doctor's Files to this Jan. 5th 1714-15.' 'And to this Aprill the 4th 1716'. 'And to this February the 4th 1717-18'. The latest date found is 31 July 1719 in an added note on p. 764. 'William Chalk, 152 Grosvenor Street Camberwell' is faintly written in pencil inside the upper cover of Volume II. He has also made a calculation of dates, based on the year 1844 beneath the author's dates as given above. Produced in Watford?

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Finding aids:

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

Archival Information

Archival history:

On the verso of the first leaf of Volume I is a note about the manuscript, signed 'Benj[amin] Bagshawe' [c 1850]: this owner has also written out a transcript (on paper water-marked 1851) of a leaf from an early edition of Chaucer's 'Complaynt of Venus', which has been pasted down inside the upper cover. This owner may perhaps be Edward Benjamin Bagshawe [1800-1884], Rector of Eyam.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Purchased 1907.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions:
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Feb 2009