An Interactive Annotated World Bibliography of Printed and Digital Works in the History of Medicine and the Life Sciences from Circa 2000 BCE to 2024 by Fielding H. Garrison (1870-1935), Leslie T. Morton (1907-2004), and Jeremy M. Norman (1945- ) Traditionally Known as “Garrison-Morton”

16061 entries, 14144 authors and 1947 subjects. Updated: December 10, 2024

JOSSELYN, John

3 entries
  • 1826.1

New-Englands rarities discovered: in birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country. Together with the physical and chyrurgical remedies wherewith the natives constantly use to cure their distempers, wounds, and sores…

London: G. Widdowes, 1672.

The first detailed account of the natural history and botany of North America, including the first extensive study of native North American medicine.



Subjects: BIOLOGY › Ethnobiology, BOTANY, BOTANY › Ethnobotany, COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States , COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States › American Northeast, NATIVE AMERICANS & Medicine, ZOOLOGY, ZOOLOGY › Ichthyology, ZOOLOGY › Ornithology
  • 13878

New-Englands rarities discovered: In birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country. Together with the physical and chyrurgical remedies wherewith the natives constantly use to cure their distempers, wounds, and sores; also A perfect description of an Indian squa, in all her bravery, with a poem not improperly conferr'd upon her; lastly, a chronological table of the most remarkable passage in that country amongst the English.

London: Printed for G. Widdowes, 1672.

Josselyn's books give some of the earliest and most complete information on New England flora and fauna in colonial times, and his outlook was later praised by Henry Thoreau, among others.
Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.



Subjects: COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States › American Northeast, Natural History, VOYAGES & Travels by Physicians, Surgeons & Scientists › History of Voyages & Travels by Physicians....
  • 13261

An account of two voyages to New-England. Wherein you have the setting out of a ship, with the charges; The prices of all necessaries for furnishing a planter and his family at his first coming: a description of the countrey [sic], natives, and creatures; with their merchantil [sic] and physical use; the government of the countrey as it is now possessed by the English, &c. A large chronological table of the most remarkable passages, from the first discovering of the continent of America, to the year 1673.

London: Printed for Giles Widdows, 1674.

Josselyn first visited America in 1638-39 and returned from 1663 to 1671. His second and more extensive book includes an herbal, with numerous botanical as well as medical and surgical descriptions, and is considered the "first complete description of the flora and fauna of the Middle Atlantic and New England States" (Winsor). He described the cranberry, wild turkey, blueberry, and other northeastern species for the first time. The work also deals with the practicalities and provisions necessary for the long sea-voyage, and includes a catalogue of tools and supplies essential to begin life in the colonies. John Josselyn, colonial traveler: A critical edition of Two voyages to New-England, edited by Paul J. Lindholdt. Hanover: University Press of New England, 1988.



Subjects: COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States › American Northeast, NATURAL HISTORY, VOYAGES & Travels by Physicians, Surgeons & Scientists