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ALBAN SMITH PAYNE : 1844 - 1846 REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN BOOK OF PRE-CIVIL WAR MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE FROM AN ASPIRING DOCTOR WITH A SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS FOR A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DISEASES AND AILMENTS

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is a remarkable piece of medical history. It is a book by a young doctor in training, named Alban Smith Payne from New York City during the 1840s. He is studying at Castleton College in Vermont, the largest Medical School in the Northeast at the time. For anyone who wants an incredibly interesting and comprehensive idea of Western medical science in pre-Civil War era, this book contains an immense amount of information in this regard. It describes dozens of diseases, their symptoms and treatments. The book seems to be an education by many different doctors, presenting case studies in the anatomy and physiology of many different diseases. The first half of the book shows the date of each lecture as well as the doctor who gave the talk. Then there are case studies presented of ailments and diseases, everything from “Subacute Rheumatism”, “Cholera Infantium”, many various “skin diseases”, “nocturnal emissions”, and many different Sexually Transmitted Infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and ‘the clapp’. There are also accounts of watching doctor’s perform operations from a theatre: “Dr. Goldsmith operated to day upon a young Lady for Strabismus. He divided the Internal Rectus muscle in a manner that showed that he was a perfect master of his profession and the eye at once became straight - The beauty of the patient rendered the operation clearly interesting .What must be her feelings of gratitude to him who in so short a time ____ the only thing that ever mortified her and changed her from an object of derision and scorn amongst their acquaintances to one of unsurpassing interest and loveliness.” There are roughly 50 pages of these lecture notes and observations. After, Payne presents seemingly an original thesis of work: “To The Medical Faculty of Castleton College. This Thesis is Dedicated As a testimony of high respect for their professional Talents and esteem for their ____ work By their faithful Friend, And Grateful Pupil, A.S. Payne. Morbus Coxanus on Hip-Joint Disease. The Anatomy and Physiology of the Hip-Joint.” Includes symptoms, different stages of progression, as well as treatment.” This section continues for 32 pages and is remarkably in depth. Following this, Payne writes a few pages on “My Idea of the Castetonians” who are “mostly descendents of our pilgrim fathers, are a moral, hospitable people, with a good deal of religious profession, and most of them practical christians - all legally honest, some morally so.” The next dozen pages or so are taken up with recipes for different “Unguenta” or healing ointments. These mixtures contain a number chemicals, including silver, sulphur, and zinc. Presumably, these recipes would be taken to a pharmacist or chemist to be made. Finally, the last 15 pages or so are taken by a detailed description of lectures and clinics attended by Payne in 1846: “Professor Parker’s Clinique - Jan 19th, 1846.” - concerning the “introduction of a tube in the Ductus ad Nasium for Fistula Lachrymalis.” The clinics discuss numerous cases: “Case 3 - Young woman abt. 20 (a beautiful one at that) Syphilitic ulcers on ear - Ulcers have a healthy ____ - most import - symptom is pain in the head in afternoon from 4 to 7 O’clock. This young woman has been upon the “”Lawn” one of the ‘Pave’ ‘has ever some sense’. She has been reclaimed by a Philanthropic Society since last May (when she had the ulcers). The ulcer has round Edge with slight inclination to be ‘scaly’. The pain in the front part of the head coming on in the afternoon is the most certain diagnostic symptom in my mind - Dr. Buckly was the first to call attention to this fact. Dr. Parker fully corroborated the fact...Treatment - Hydrostatic Potash 10grs. Conium 2grs. In solution twice a day, repeated afterwards ter in die.” There are also a couple of pages in which the bottom half of the page has been cut out and just the top half is left. These short pages deal with things such as, “Sir Charles Bill’s Treatment for Gonorrhea or Clapp,” “Dr. Bill’s Rules for Injections in Penis,” and causes and symptoms of a “Concussion of brain”. The last page includes a number of different antidotes and remedies to such things as Arsenic poisoning and Whooping Cough. The book is in good shape. It has a marbled cover and a quarter leather binding. It is roughly 100 pages in length, and each page has writing on it. For the first half of the book, Payne writes in pencil, which has faded a bit due to age and wear, but is still readable, especially under direct light. The last half of the book is in very legible and easily readable pen, with no smudging present. (Background: Alban Smith Payne was born July 1st, 1822 in Warrenton, VA, and died in April of 1891 in Markham, VA. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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