Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1695

CALVIN CUTTER (1807-1873?) First book on anatomy and physiology. Benjamin B. Mussey 1847 139, 5 pp., 80 illus. 17.4 cm.

Cutter, a native of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, studied medicine at Dartmouth where he graduated in 1832. He practiced privately in several New Hampshire towns until 1841 when he became a medical lecturer and spent the next twelve years lecturing throughout the United States. In 1856 Cutter became involved in the political intrigue and violence taking place in Kansas. He took part in many of the paramilitary activities and was president of the military council in Kansas for a time. He later served as a surgeon with the Union forces during the Civil War and was twice wounded and captured during the Battle of Bull Run. Cutter's wide experience as a medical lecturer led to his publication of the present work for the lay public. An elementary work intended for individuals with little medical knowledge, it contains many practical suggestions for maintaining good hygiene, has a short glossary of scientific terms, and a section on poisons and their antidotes. It became extremely popular and by 1871 nearly 500,000 copies had been sold. In addition to this first Boston edition, the book was also published at New York in 1847 in a stereotype edition with eighty-four illustrations. The University of Iowa Libraries' copy is lacking pages 2 and 3 of a five page testimonial section at the end of the book.