Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 603.5

RICHARD MORTON (1637-1698) Phthisiologia: or, A treatise of consumptions : wherein the difference, nature, causes, signs, and cure of all sorts of consumptions are explained : containing three books... Printed for Sam. Smith and Benj. Walford at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-yard 1694 1st edition in English. [8], 360, [16] p., [1] leaf of plates : port 20 cm (8vo).

Alternative title: Phthisiologia, seu Exercitationes de phthisi tribus libris comprehensae. Additional authors: Smith, Samuel, fl. 1681-1703, bookseller. Walford, Benjamin, d. ca. 1710, bookseller. White, Robert, 1645-1703, engraver. First edition in English of the most important early English book on tuberculosis. In reviewing the development of knowledge, Lawrason Brown notes that by the closing years of the seventeenth century “nothing was known concerning phthisis before the stage of ulceration… [and that the first noteworthy advance was made by] Richard Morton… who published in 1689 his famous Phthisiologia. In this work he described the evolution of the tubercle, stating that the ulceration proceeded from the tubercle which, he considered, arose from glands” (Story of clinical pulmonary tuberculosis, 11). Morton “left a great treatise on tuberculosis containing an excellent clinical description of wasting. He described not only the physical deterioration from pulmonary tuberculosis but included other cachectic illnesses such as prolonged jaundice, gouty arthritis, and intermittent fevers. The spread of phthisis by contagion, which pursued a rapid fulminating course or developed into chronic consumption, was clearly presented. He believed that fresh air was helpful in prevention, recognized the hereditary disposition, differentiated two types of fever… and identified cough and loss of weight as pathognomonic signs of pulmonary consumption” (Talbott, Biographical history of medicine, 137).

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 3216; Osler 3460; Wellcome IV p.185; NLM 17th c. #8134

John Martin M.D. Endowment