Observations on the Dropsy in the Brain
Edinburgh: John Balfour; printed by Balfour, Auld & Smellie, 1768.
Robert Whytt’s landmark neurological study on hydrocephalus, then known as “dropsy in the brain,” representing one of the earliest systematic clinical investigations of the condition. Whytt, physician to the King and Professor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, provides detailed clinical observations based on numerous case studies, particularly in pediatric patients. He carefully describes symptoms, disease progression, pathological findings, and diagnostic distinctions, helping to establish hydrocephalus as a clearly defined medical condition rather than a vaguely understood neurological disorder. His work marks a critical advancement in the scientific understanding of brain disease during the eighteenth century and contributed significantly to the development of neurology as a medical specialty.
The volume also includes additional medical observations and previously unpublished material, expanding Whytt’s investigations into nervous system disorders and physiological function. This work became one of the foundational texts in neurological and pediatric medicine and was widely consulted by physicians throughout Europe. This copy bears institutional provenance from the Library of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University and the ownership label of physician Arthur Edward Lyons, reflecting its long-standing presence within scholarly medical collections.
Condition & Binding: Bound in later quarter calf over marbled boards, with gilt titling to spine. Binding remains sound and structurally secure, with moderate rubbing and toning to spine and extremities. Text block complete and legible throughout. Pages show moderate age toning, scattered foxing, and dampstaining primarily to lower margins, heavier toward the rear. Overall- very good. Item #817
Price: $1,500.00