Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 819

JOHN HUXHAM (1692-1768) Observationes de aëre et morbis epidemicis. Impensis Joannis Hinton 1752 Vol. I: 2nd ed. Vol. II: [1st ed.]. Vol. I: [4] xxx, 161 [1] 38 [6] pp.; Vol. II: [2] xix [1] 208 pp., 1 plate. 20 cm.

Huxham studied at Leiden under Boerhaave for three years and returned to England following his graduation, eventually settling in Plymouth where he developed an extensive practice and achieved considerable fame. His Essay on fevers (see No. 820) and A dissertation on the malignant ulcerous sore-throat (see No. 822) are his best-known works. Volume I of the present work was first published in 1739 and contains Huxham's carefully recorded observations from 1728 to 1737 of the effects that weather has on various diseases. Volume I also contains his well-known Opusculum de morbo colico Damnoniorum, first published in 1739. An excellent work in clinical medicine, he erred only in that he ascribed the colic epidemic to the crude tartar contained in the apples and cider. In 1767, Sir George Baker (1722-1809) showed that it was actually lead poisoning caused by the lead used in the cider presses and vats. Volume II of the set contains additional observations Huxham made between 1738 and 1748. A third volume of fragmentary observations was published in 1770 from Huxham's notes.

See Related Record(s): 820 822

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 1675 (1752-1770 ed.); Waller 5040-5041; Wellcome III, p. 322

Gift of John Martin, M.D.