North America
3,694 entries published in North America.
1841 –1849
#7774
The North American sylva; or, A description of the forest trees of the United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia, considered particularly with respect to their use in the arts, and their introduction into commerce; to which is added a description of the most useful of the European trees. Illustrated by 156 coloured engravings. Translated from the French of F. Andrew Michaux ... With three additional volumes, containing all the forest trees discovered in the Rocky Mountains, the Territory of Oregon, down to the shores of the Pacific and into the confines of California, as well as in various parts of the United States. Illustrated by 122 finely coloured plates. 6 vols.
The first study of all the trees of North America. Digital facsimile of all 6 vols. from the Hathi Trust at this link.
1841
#10723
The American vegetable practice, or, a new and improved guide to health: Designed for the use of families. : In six Parts. Part I. Concise view of the human body, with engraved and wood-cut illustrations. Part II. Glance at the old school practice of physic. Part III. Vegetable materia medica, with colored Illustrations. Part IV. Compounds. Part V. Practice of medicine, based upon what are deemed correct physiological and pathological principles. Part VI. Guide for women, containing a simplified treatise on childbirth, with a description of the diseases peculiar to females and infant. 2 vols.
The first American book with chromolithographed illustrations printed in America. The chromolithographed images depict American medicinal plants. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
1841
#12867
Essay on the importance of regulating the teeth of children before the fourteenth year, or the period of life when the second set of teeth become perfectly developed.
This 11-page pamphlet was the first American work on orthodontics.
1841
#13521
The pathology of drunkeness, or the effects of alcoholic drinks with drawings of the drunkard's stomach.
Including four chromolithographed plates by J. H. Hall, Albany, N.Y., this is the earliest illustrated book published in the U.S. on the pathological effects of alcoholism. Digital facsimile from the U.S. National Lib…
1842
#4691
Practice of medicine: A treatise on special pathology and therapeutics. 2 vols.
A case of chronic hereditary chorea in adults (“Huntington’s chorea”, see No. 4699) is described on pp. 312-13 of vol. 2. This is in the form of a letter from one of Dunglison's recently graduated students at Jefferso…
1842
#5855
A treatise on strabismus, with a description of new instruments designed to improve the operation for its cure.
1842
#10064
The history, diagnosis, and treatment of typhoid and of typhus fever: With an essay on the diagnosis of bilious remittent and of yellow fever.
Bartlett's book contains the first complete description of typhoid fever in English. In 1908 Osler wrote, "The chief interest of the work today lies in the remarkably accurate picture which is given of typhoid fever--…
1842
#11260
Homoeópathy, and its kindred delusions; Two lectures delivered before the Boston Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
1842
#11693
Travels in Europe and the East, embracing observations made during a tour through Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland, Prussia, Saxony, Bohemia, Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland, Lombardy, Tuscany, the Papal States, the Neapolitan Dominions, Malta, the Islands of the Archipelago, Greece, Egypt, Asia Minor, Turkey, Moldavia, Wallachia, and Hungary in the years 1834, '35, '36, '37, '38, '39, '40, and '41.
Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.
1842 –1894
#12480
[New York Natural History and Geological Survey.] Natural history of New York. 30 vols.
The New York Natural History and Geological Survey was established by the state legislature in 1836 under the direction of James Ellsworth DeKay. By far the most ambitious scientific project undertaken in the United S…
1843
#3446
An experimental and critical inquiry into the nature and treatment of wounds of the intestines.
Reports of a series of experiments upon dogs to determine the best way to treat intestinal wounds. First published in West. J. Med. Surg., 1843. 7, 1-50, [81]-141, [161]-224.
1843
#10512
A flora of the state of New-York, comprising full descriptions of all the indigenous and naturalized plants hitherto discovered in the state; with remarks on their economical and medicinal properties. 2 vols.
For a long time this was the most comprehensive botany of any U.S. state. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
1843
#13612
Memorial. To the Legislature of Massachusetts.
Dorothea Dix played an instrumental role in the founding or expansion of more than 30 hospitals for the treatment of the mentally ill in various U.S. states. This was probably the first of her many publications advoca…
1844
#5598
A treatise on operative surgery.
Pancoast was Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at Jefferson Medical College. He was a fine operator and devised a number of new surgical operations and instruments. This was work contains 80 fine lithographed plates, a…
1844
#8832
Crania Aegyptiaca: or, observations on Egyptian ethnography, derived from anatomy, history and the monuments. From the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. IX.
Morton argued that blacks and whites had been racially distinct since the Egyptian First Dynasty and drew the following conclusions, long since debunked: "Conclusions. "1. The valley of the Nile, both in Egypt and in …
1844
#9823
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. 5 vols. plus atlas.
The United States Exploring Expedition was the first United States scientific expedition by sea. Wilkes' six ships ranged from Tierra del Fuego, Chile, and Peru, to Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand,…
1844
#10446
The theory and treatment of fevers. Revised and corrected by Ferdinando Stith.
The first medical treatise published in Missouri and the first medical treatise published west of the Mississippi River. "John Sappington provided medical services, was a financial lender, and imported and exported go…
1844
#12895
The anatomy, physiology and pathology of the human teeth; with the most approved methods of treatment; including operations, and the method of making and setting artificial teeth. With thirty plates
Probably the first comprehensive and comprehensively illustrated general treatise on dentistry published in the United States. It is prefaced with a rather comprehensive historical summary. Digital facsimile from Goog…
1845
#3991.1
A synopsis of the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the more common and important diseases of the skin.
First comprehensive American work on dermatology.
1845
#6711.1
American medical biography…
Biographies of American physicians who died after publication of Thacher (No. 6710). Reprint, New York, Milford House, 1967.
1845 –1854
#7769
The viviparous quadrupeds of North America. 2 vols. of plates in folio; 3 vols. 8vo text.
The largest and most significant color plate book produced in America during the 19th century.
1845
#9556
The sanitary condition of the laboring population of New York with suggestions for its improvement.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
1845
#11698
Accidents: Popular directions for their immediate treatment; with observations on poisons and their antidotes.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
1845
#13761
The origin of life: A popular treatise on the philosophy and physiology of reproduction, in plants and animals, including the details of human generation with a full description of the male and female organs. Illustrated by fine colored engravings on stone.
Digital facsimile of the 20th edition from Google Books at this link.
1846
#3261
A treatise on diseases of the air-passages.
Green was the “father of laryngology” in America, and this is the first American treatise in otorhinolaryngology. He was the first successfully to introduce medicaments into the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for local …
1846
#5652
Circular. Morton’s Letheon.
Unaware of Crawford Long’s results with ether, Morton, having been informed of the anesthetic effects of ether by Charles T. Jackson, promoted its anesthetic effects. To do so he published the above circular, in which…
1846
#7310
U. S. Patent No. 4848. The United States of America. To all to whom these Letters Patent shall come.... November 12, 1846.
U.S. Patent No. 4848, issued to Charles T. Jackson and William T. G. Morton on November 12, 1846 for the discovery of sulfuric ether as a surgical anesthetic. This was the first truly significant medical patent ever i…
1846
#8587
The young stethoscopist; or, the student's aid to auscultation.
Through this book Bowditch established the stethoscope as a diagnostic tool in America. Digital facsimile from the Medical Heritage Library, Internet Archive, at this link.
1846
#11724
Physical education and the preservation of health.
An expanded version of a lecture first delivered and published as a pamphlet in 1830. This is the first edition in book form, and one of the first American works on the value of exercise for the preservation of health…
1846
#11734
A treatise on the motive powers which produce the circulation of the blood.
The author was an American women's rights activist and educator rather than a physician or physiologist. Digital facsimile from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.
1847
#5653
Remarks on the proper mode of administering sulphuric ether by inhalation.
This 44-page pamphlet was the first American manual on the administration of anesthesia. In it Morton announced that his method of producing anesthesia was obtained by the inhalation of sulphuric ether. He subsequentl…
1847
#5660
A history of the discovery of the application of nitrous oxide gas, ether, and other vapours, to surgical operations.
In 1844 Wells, a Hartford dentist, successfully used nitrous oxide as a dental anesthetic. To publicize his discovery, he arranged a demonstration at Harvard Medical School in January 1845, but this proved a fiasco. W…
1847
#7602
A descriptive catalogue of the Anatomical Museum of the Boston Society for Medical Improvement.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
1847
#8545
Medical botany: or, Descriptions of the more important plants used in medicine, with their history, properties, and mode of administration.
The author intended to update and correct the earlier works on American materia medica by Barton, Bigelow and Rafinesque, and to make this information available at a reasonable price. Digital facsimile from the Biodiv…
1847
#10063
Proceedings of the National Medical Conventions, held in New York, May, 1846, and in Philadelphia, May, 1847.
The complete proceedings of the founding of the American Medical Association. This version also contains the text of the Code of Ethics written by Isaac Hayes and adopted by the AMA. In updated forms, this remains the…
1847 –1847
#10336
Southern ichthyology; or a description of the fishes inhabiting the waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Pt. 2, 1847, Pt. 3, 1848.
Holbrook never published part one of this work.
1847
#11913
Some account of the first use of sulphuric ether by inhalation in surgical practice. [Read before the Boston Society for Medical Improvement, April 12, 1847.]
Hayward's case report of the first major operation performed under ether anesthesia, which he performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital on November 7, 1846, three weeks after Warren's first operation using ether…
1847
#13469
The married woman's private medical companion, embracing the treatment of menstruation, or monthly turns, during their stoppage, irregularity, or entire suppression, pregnancy, and how it may be determined, with the treatment of its various diseases. Discovery to prevent pregnancy, its great and important necessity where malformation or inability exists to give birth. To prevent miscarriage or abortion when proper and necessary, to effect miscarriage when attended with entire safety. Causes and mode of cure of barrenness or sterility
Published pseudonymously by radical printer Charles Lohman who was married to the abortionist/entrpreneur Ann Lohman known as "Madame Restell." The Lohmans also sold condoms. Digital facsimile from U.S. National Libra…
1848
#5730
Ether and chloroform: a compendium of their history, surgical use, dangers and discovery.
Bigelow’s speedy publication of Morton’s discovery (No. 5651), and his subsequent advocacy of ether as an anesthetic assured its adoption throughout the civilized world. The above work deals with the priority claims o…
1848
#5661
A treatise on etherization in childbirth.
Channing was an early advocate of anesthesia in obstetrics. In his book, and in several earlier papers, he brought the importance of this branch of anesthesia into the foreground.
1848
#10056
Code of ethics of the American Medical Association. Adopted May 1847.
Heavily influenced by Percival's work, the AMA's code of ethics was written by Isaac Hayes. The first leaf of this 30-page pamphlet indicates that it was "Printed for Private Distribution by the Philadelphia Delegatio…
1848
#11727
Etherization: With surgical remarks.
Warren performed the first surgical operation under anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital on October 16, 1846. This work presents his experience with anesthesia in the year following. Digital facsimile from U.S…
1849
#5234
On the cryptogamous origin of malarious and epidemic fevers.
Although Hensinger in 1844 had suggested a parasite as the cause of malaria, Mitchell was the first to approach this theory in a scientific spirit. He was Professor of Medicine at Jefferson College, and the father of …
1849
#10110
Physician and patient; or, a practical view of the mutual duties, relations and interests of the medical profession and the community.
"During this era of rampant sectarianism in medicine, doctors frequently became dishonest or abusive as they competed for patients. To deal with this situation, the American Medical Association adopted [in 1847] a cod…
1849
#10746
An inquiry concerning the diseases and functions of the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves.
The first American book on neurology, with a lengthy discussion of neuropathology. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
1849
#12893
A dictionary of dental science, biography, bibliography, and medical terminology.
An encyclopedia in dictionary form, combining all the elements described in the title in one alphabetical sequence. This work underwent numerous later editions. Digital facsimile of the 1849 edition from Google Books …
1849
#14327
Effects of chloroform and of strong chloric ether, as narcotic agents.
“On October 16, 1846, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Warren participated in the first public demonstration of anesthesia for surgery. He was the surgeon for the first surgical patient given ether anesthesia, and W…
1850
#1609
Report of a general plan for the promotion of public and personal health, devised, prepared, and recommended by the commissioners appointed under a resolve of the legislature of Massachusetts relating to a sanitary survey of the State.
Compiled by a team, but entirely written by Shattuck, this report was the first general blueprint for the promotion of public health presented to an American governmental body. Its first proposal was for the creation …
1850 –1854
#1777
A systematic treatise, historical, etiological, and practical, on the principal diseases of the interior valley of North America as they appear in the Causcasian, African, Indian, and Esquimaux varieties of Its population. 2 vols.
This classical contribution to the social / medical history of North America includes the most important work on the natural history of malaria published up to that time. Digital facsimile of vol. 1 from the Internet …
1850
#10295
An historical sketch of the state of medicine in the American Colonies, from their first settlement to the period of the Revolution.
A pioneering historical interpretation of the development of medicine in the 13 colonies up to the American Revolution. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link. This is the second, significantly expan…