Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1192

JOHN FERRIAR (1764-1815) An essay on the medical properties of the digitalis purpurea, or foxglove. Printed by Sowler and Russell, for Messrs. Cadell and Davies, London 1799 [4] iv [3]-66 pp. 18.8 cm.

A few years after graduating from Edinburgh in 1781, Ferriar settled in Manchester where he became physician to the Manchester Infirmary, Dispensary, Lunatic Hospital and Asylum. He was a talented writer and also devoted much of his time to literary pursuits. In addition to his several literary publications, Ferriar wrote a number of medical works. He was prompted to write this work to share his experience with digitalis, which he had used in his practice for a number of years. He found the drug particularly useful in cases of hemorrhage, pulmonary consumption, asthma, and some disorders of the circulatory system. He also had used the drug successfully for a skin disease and felt that it would "prove a valuable cosmetic" (p. 65).

Gift of John Martin, M.D.