HARRIS, Walter.

Londini: impensis Samuelis Smith, .1689

8vo, pp. (xv), 146, (2). With the imprimatur leaf before the title and the final leaf of advertisements, title within rules. Contemporary calf, very rubbed, upper joint cracked and held by the cords, ends of spine worn. Some leaves very slightly browned, but internally a very fresh and clean copy. Half morocco solander box. Contemporary signature of Thomas Willoughby (FRS) with his purchase price in upper margin of title; bookplate of Harry Friedenwald, historian of Jewish medicine, and presentation inscription on front endpapers.

FIRST EDITION of this famous book on paediatrics, which served for nearly a century as the standard work until finally superseded by Underwood’s Treatise on the diseases of children. Harris anticipated the modern treatment of tetany by using calcium salts in infantile convulsions. For a study of the book see Ann. med. Hist., 1919, 2, 228-240. Harris was physician to William and Mary. G&M 6321. There were at least eighteen editions in various languages, including three different English translations, but this first edition remains extremely rare. Wing H880. Norman Catalogue 994. Still pp. 291–300. Ruhräh pp. 350–364.

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