North America

1845 CE

#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 CE–1854 CE

#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.

1846 CE

#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 bronch…

1846 CE

#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.

1846 CE

#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…

1846 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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…

1847 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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…

1847 CE–1847 CE

#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.

1848 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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 prior…

1848 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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 CE

#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,…

1849 CE

#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 CE

#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…

1850 CE

#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…

1850 CE

#11306

Constitution, by-laws and fee bill of the San Francisco Medical Society: Organized June 22, 1850.

This 8-page pamphlet is one of the earliest separate publications relating to medicine printed in the State of California. The "Society" disbanded shortly after this was published, perhaps over disputes concerning the…

1850 CE

#10426

Diary of a physician in California; being the results of actual experience, including notes of the journey by land and water, and observations on the climate, soil, resources of the country, etc.

Tyson sailed from Baltimore for California in January 1849, crossing the Isthmus and sailing on to San Francisco. His book recounts his 1849 tour of the Northern Mines in search of a likely place for his medical pract…

1850 CE

#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 CE

#13760

The marriage guide, or natural history of generation; a private instructor for married persons and those about to marry, both male and female, in every thing concerning the physiology and relations of the sexual system and production or prevention of offspring; including all the new discoveries, never before given in the English language.

Digital facsimile of the 196th edition, much enlarged and improved from Google Books at this link. Sappol (2002) estimated that Hollick's works on sexuality and reproduction underwent at least 500 editions of between …

1850 CE–1851 CE

#10517

Southern medical reports: Consisting of general and special reports, on the medical topography, meteorology, and prevalent diseases, in the following states: Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas. Edited by E. D. Fenner. 2 vols.

Regarding Fenner see, John Duffy, "Erasmus Darwin Fenner (1807–1866) Journalist, Educator, and Sanitarian," Academic Medicine. 35 (1960) 819-831. Digital facsimile of the 1850-51 edition from the Internet Archiv…

1850 CE–1854 CE

#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 …

1851 CE

#10102

History of medical education and institutions in the United States: From the first settlement of the British colonies to the year 1850; with a chapter on the present condition and wants of the profession, and the means necessary for supplying those wants, and elevating the character and extending the usefulness of the whole profession.

Davis instrumental in the establishment of the American Medical Association and was twice elected its president. He became the first editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association. He was a founder of the C…

1851 CE

#10416

Ladies' indispensable assistant: Being a companion for the sister, mother, and wife ... Here are the very best directions for the behavior and etiquette of ladies and gentlemen ... ; also, safe directions for the management of children ... a great variety of valuable recipes, forming a complete system of family medicine ... : to which is added one of the best systems of cookery ever published ....

In spite of the verbose title, the Table of Contents of this work indicates that roughly the first half of the book concerns home remedies for the widest range of complaints and illnesses, and medical properties of pl…

1852 CE

#11950

The laws of life, with special reference to the physical education of girls.

Blackwell's first book, a volume about the physical and mental development of girls, emphasizing the value of exercise, intended to help prepare young women for motherhood. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this …

1852 CE

#13308

The people's medical lighthouse; a series of popular and scientific essays on the nature, uses, and diseases of the lungs, heart, liver, stomach, kidneys, womb and blood; also a key to the causes, prevention, remedies, and cure of pumonary and other kinds of consumption;....Marriage guide....

One of the more comprehensive American works on popular medicine from the mid-19th century, frequently reprinted. The author, who published the work himself from his address in New York City, describes himself as A.M.…

1852 CE

#3262

The surgical treatment of polypi of the larynx and oedema of the glottis.

Green was one of the few to remove a laryngeal tumor before the invention of the laryngoscope.

1853 CE

#7747

A materia medica animalia, containing the scientific analysis, natural history and chemical and medical properties and uses of the substances that are the products of beasts, birds, fishes or insects ...

Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1853 CE

#6039

The surgical treatment of certain fibrous tumours of the uterus.

Atlee was among the first to study the surgical removal of uterine fibroids.

1854 CE

#3264

A practical treatise on foreign bodies in the air-passages.

First systematic study of the subject. In this celebrated work Gross laid down principles concerning symptoms which are still fundamental, despite the advent of roentgenology.

1854 CE

#13388

Chemical atlas; or, the chemistry of familiar objects: Exhibiting the general principles of the science in a series of beautifully colored diagrams, and accompanied by explanatory essays, embracing the latest views of the subjects illustrated. Designed for the use of students and pupils in all schools where chemistry is taught.

The diagrams in this pioneering work in information graphics were printed in red and black; a variety of other colors were applied by hand. Digital facsimile from digital.sciencehistory.org at this link.

1854 CE

#6182

Difficult labors and their treatment.

Wright was responsible for the introduction of combined cephalic version.

1854 CE

#5747

Elkoplasty, or anaplasty applied to the treatment of old ulcers.

Hamilton was among the first to treat ulcers by skin-grafting. He made the flap smaller than the space which it was intended to fill, “trusting to growth and expansion of the graft to complete the cure”. A…

1854 CE

#4418.1

Essay on a new method of treating ununited fractures and certain deformities of the osseous system.

Experimenting on animals and cadavers, Brainard developed a special bone drill or “perforator” introduced subcutaneously to perforate the bone ends, simulating a recent fracture, and thus stimulating callu…

1854 CE

#11549

Notes of M. Bernard's lectures on the blood; with an appendix by Walter F. Atlee.

This record of Bernard's actual lectures contains the first published description of Bernard's technique of right and left heart cathererization, a technique that Bernard invented. The appendix includes notes of lectu…

1854 CE

#9116

On the construction, organization and general arrangements of hospitals for the insane.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1854 CE

#8383

The claims of the Negro, ethnologically considered: An address before the literary societies of Western Reserve College, at commencement, July 12, 1854.

Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

1854 CE

#8827

Types of mankind: or, ethnological researches based upon the ancient monuments, paintings, sculptures and crania of races, and upon their natural, geographical, philological, and biblical history; illustrated by selections from the indedited papers of Samuel George Morton, and by additional contributions by L. Agassiz, W. Usher, and H. S. Patterson

Nott, a prominent physician and anthropologist in Mobile, Alabama, employed polygenist arguments to justify slavery. This required resoilving the problem of racial hybridity. Polygenists claimed that different races w…

1855 CE

#10103

History of the American Medical Association, from its organization up to January, 1855. To which is appended biographical notices, with portraits of the presidents of the association, and of the author

The first history of the American Medical Association, founded in 1847, written by one of its chief founders. Digital facsimile from Hathi Trust at this link.

1855 CE

#6276

Puerperal fever, as a private pestilence.

Because his first paper (No. 6274) had been published in a short-lived journal with very small circulation, Holmes enlarged his famous essay on the contagiousness of puerperal fever, and in this reiteration mentioned …