Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 769

RICHARD MEAD (1673-1754) A short discourse concerning pestilential contagion, and the methods to be used to prevent it. Printed for Sam. Buckley and Ralph Smith 1720 3rd ed. [8] 59 pp. 19.7 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 766

The present treatise is one of the most important works in the history of public health because of its impact on the theory of contagion. Here Mead states quite clearly that the disease is contagious--"Contagion is propagated by three Causes, the Air, Diseased Persons; and Goods transported from infected Places" (p. 2). In 1719 an outbreak of plague in Marseilles caused great concern in England and Mead was asked to submit a report on the matter. As a result of his recommendations, quarantine was imposed for a time but later relaxed because of political opposition and abatement of the plague in France. In the book Mead discusses the origin, nature, and spread of the plague and places special emphasis on preventive measures that may be taken against the plague and therapeutic remedies that may be employed. The book met with tremendous success and went through six editions in 1720 and had reached a ninth edition by 1744. It was also translated into Latin, Italian, and Dutch.

Cited references: Cushing M250 (8th ed., 1722); Garrison-Morton 5123 (1st ed., 1720); Waller 6394

Gift of William B. Bean, M.D