[Rarebooks] FS - An Essay on the Tongue (medical)

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

WILLIAMS, Edward. /AN ESSAY ON THE TONGUE, in Functional Derangement of 
the Stomach and Bowels./ Bound in original green cloth, stamped in blind 
to boards. Simpkin, Marshall and Co., London. 1843. 1st edition. Slim 
8vo, pp. xi, 119. Front board present, but detached. Spine loose but 
attached. Contents clean and still tight. A good copy, with all faults.

A very scarce title, (not in Garrison & Morton), dealing with an organ 
oft-overlooked by medical scholars and researchers. Williams was the 
senior physician to the Essex and Colchester Hospital, and this was his 
signed presentation copy, inscribed to J. B. Fletcher (to whom the 
book's printed dedication is also made out). Small bookplate (?) of 
Arthur Rook on front pastedown. This essay also provides "some 
observations on the tongue's aspect in organic disease of the lungs". 
Williams argues that observation of the tongue in a distressed patient 
is often a reliable means of diagnosing the ailment which afflicts the 
patient. He provides much statistical evidence, based upon his clinical 
observations: "I was induced to enter upon this inquiry from observing 
that the mucous membrane and papillae of the tongue presented varying 
aspects in functional disturbances of the stomach.." This very scarce 
title precedes both Yaggy's book on cancer of the tongue, and Butlin's 
book on diseases ofthe tongue, by 40 years, and is contemporaenous with 
Harris's paper on the teeth, lips and tongue, read before the American 
Society of Dental Surgons in 1841. Thus, it is perhaps the first 
significant medical study of the relationship of the appearance
of the tongue to health and disease.

Price: $250.00.  (#32049)

TERMS OF SALE - The price is net in U.S. funds. Payment by check, or 
credit card. Postage and packing charge is $7 in North America; $9 
overseas (Global Priority). Returnable within seven days of receipt if 
not as described.

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenfield Books Ltd.
Member: ABAC/ILAB
217 Academy Road,
Winnipeg, MB R3M 0E3 Canada
Telephone - (204) 488-2023
Web site: http://www.greenfieldbooks.com