Observations on the Epidemical Diseases in Minorca, From the Year 1744 to 1749: To Which Is Prefixed, a Short Account of the Climate, Productions, Inhabitants, and Endemial Distempers of That Island

London: Printed for T. Cadell, successor to Mr. Millar, and D. Wilson and G. Nicol, 1768. Third Edition. Octavo. xxiv, 311 pp. Contemporary calf binding with raised bands to spine, now extensively deteriorated. An important eighteenth-century work of clinical and epidemiological medicine based on George Cleghorn's observations while serving as an army surgeon on Minorca from 1744 to 1749. Cleghorn combines detailed descriptions of the island's climate, geography, agriculture, inhabitants and endemic diseases with firsthand clinical observations of epidemic illness. The medical portion discusses intermittent and tertian fevers, dysentery and other infectious diseases, drawing upon several years of systematic observations of weather, seasonal disease patterns, clinical courses and post-mortem findings. The 1768 third edition is bibliographically recorded as ESTC T144280, with xxiv, 311 pages. Medical Significance Cleghorn's work occupies an important place in the development of clinical epidemiology and tropical medicine. He attempted to correlate weather, season, environment and local conditions with patterns of disease, recording observations made during active medical practice among both British troops and the inhabitants of Minorca. The work is cited as Garrison-Morton 1674. Cleghorn gave important descriptions of diseases and conditions that had received little previous attention, including epidemic jaundice, and included accounts based upon numerous post-mortem examinations. The book is also notable for its extensive introductory survey of Minorca—covering climate, plants, animals, food, wine, customs and endemic illnesses—making it of interest beyond medicine to collectors of eighteenth-century Mediterranean history and natural history. Condition Poor, but complete. This copy has suffered major structural binding failure. Both original calf boards are completely detached. The text block has broken into multiple separate sections, although the book has been checked and is complete. Original calf spine is extensively deteriorated with substantial leather loss and exposed binding structure. An old paper covering/repair remains around portions of the spine and is itself heavily torn, chipped and partially detached. Boards show substantial rubbing, scuffing, edge wear and leather loss. Spine leather is dry, cracked and fragmentary. Internally, the leaves show age toning, scattered foxing, staining and occasional edge wear consistent with an eighteenth-century working medical book. Title page remains present and legible. Text remains usable and complete. Offered strictly as a complete but broken copy and an excellent candidate for professional conservation or rebinding. Please examine all photographs carefully; they form an essential part of the condition description. Collector Appeal It is an original 1768 third edition of a recognized Garrison-Morton title, published only seventeen years after the first edition of 1751. The work remained influential enough to go through multiple eighteenth- and early nineteenth century editions and was later issued in America with additional material. Shipping / Returns Carefully packed with all detached components individually protected and secured to prevent further damage in transit. Shipped in a sturdy box with tracking. International shipping available. Additional photographs available upon request. Returns accepted within the AbeBooks 30-day return period. SCI 4a.…