PEARSON, John.

London: Printed for the author; and sold by J. Johnson… .1788

8vo, pp. xx, 2 leaves, pp. 267, (1). Half-title. Short tear in upper margin of title neatly restored, similar short tears in the first leaf of several gatherings. Contemporary half calf, rebacked and corners repaired, sides a bit discoloured and edges rubbed. Early signature (cropped) of “Mr. Harri[son?]” in upper corner of title; signature and armorial bookplate of Samuel Merriman M.D. (1771–1852, obstetrician) on front pastedown and some notes in the text probably in his hand; bookplate of Charing Cross Hospital with their stamp on the title and several other pages.

FIRST EDITION. “The principles are drawn up in a concise and aphoristical form for the use of students attending Pearson’s lectures on surgery” (ODNB). The subject matter is principally diseases that require surgical treatment such as gangrene, erysipelas, cancer, etc. Chapter IX is on burns and scalds. Pearson lived for three years in Leeds at the home of William Hey, the eminent surgeon to the Leeds Infirmary, whose biography he later wrote. He travelled to London in 1780 and entered as a student at St George’s Hospital to work under John Hunter.

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