Observations on the diseases of the army. HFN copy

Pringle, John (1707-82). Observations on the diseases of the army, in camp and garrison. xxiii, 431pp. London: A. Millar and D. Wilson; T. Payne, 1752. 207 x 129 mm. Calf gilt ca. 1752, rebacked preserving original spine, corners a bit worn. Scattered faint foxing, but very good. The Haskell F. Norman copy, with his bookplate; 19th-century bookplate of E. G. Graham Little.

First Edition. Pringle, Physician-General to the British Army from 1744 to 1752, was the founder of modern military medicine. His Observations "laid down the true principles of military sanitation and the ventilation of hospital wards. Pringle was one of the pioneers of the antiseptic idea, showed that jail fever and hospital fever are one and the same, did much for the better ventilation of ships, barracks, jails and mines, correlated the different forms of dysentery and gave the name influenza to that dread disease. This work [was] the source-book of all subsequent writers" (Garrison, p. 149). Pringle did much to improve the lot of soldiers, and it was due to remarks in his book that foot-soldiers were given blankets when on service.

The preface to this work contains Pringle's account of the origin of the Red Cross concept, in which all military hospitals were to be regarded as neutral and mutually protected. This proposition was first made in 1743 by the Earl of Stair, commander of the British forces in Germany, but it was probably at Pringle's suggestion. Garrison-Morton.com 2150. Garrison, Military Medicine, p. 149. GM 2150. Norman 1756 (this copy).