This unusual manuscript book belonged to Dr. Joseph Badger Parsons (1818 – 1857) of Gilmanton, New Hampshire.
The book contains 37 pages of detailed notes from lectures Parsons attended at Dartmouth Medical College. There are 29 detailed pages of noted from lectures in surgery given by then-Head of Surgery Dr. Dixi Crosby, and 8 pages of notes from lectures given by Dr. Joseph Roby. Additionally, there are numerous recipes for such things as gunpowder, percussion caps, matches, gonorrhea, cough drops, cologne, scarlet dye, indelible ink, epileptic pills, hot drops for rheumatism, etc.
Dr. Crosby’s lectures include topics such as treatment of inflammation, modus operandi of blood letting, manner of giving emetics, treatment of chronic inflammation, local treatment of inflammation, suppurative inflammation, diseased pus, abscesses, ulceration and ulcers, mortification, erysipelas, wounds, diseases of bones, cystitis, urinary calculi, hernia, treatment of and operation for strangulated hernia.
Dr. Roby’s lecture topics include pathology, hygiene, therapeutics, typhoid fever and its affect on the brains of children, diseases of the chest, auscultation, inflammation, irritation and congestion.
There are 160 total pages in this book, 79 of which have detailed content. The book measures 8 1/2 inches by 6 1/2inches and is 5/8″ thick. It is in very good condition, with firmly secured paper-wrapped boards, a leather spine, and tight binding.