THE MODERN THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. WHEREIN THE ANTECEDENT CAUSES OF DISEASES; THE RISE OF THE MOST USUAL SYMPTOMS INCIDENT TO THEM; AND THE TRUE METHODS OF CURE; ARE EXPLAIN'D ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED LAWS OF NATURE, AND THOSE OF THE ANIMAL OECONOMY. TOGETHER WITH A CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE URINE, AND A STATICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BLOOD, IN EVERY STAGE OF EACH DISTEMPER WHERE BLOOD COULD BE DRAWN WITH SAFETY

London: Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, 1738. Second Edition, with additions. 205 x 125 mm. (8 x 5"). lix, [1], 371, [1] pp. (ads on verso of half title and on verso of final text leaf).
Contemporary sheep, covers with double gilt fillet border, raised bands flanked by gilt rules. Front pastedown with three red wax dots (from attaching bookplate or other insert?); front flyleaf with contemporary ink inscription: "James Taylor's Property." ESTC N5225. ◆Edges and joints with significant wear, boards rather chafed and rubbed, a couple of patches of lost patina from insect activity, but the original unrestored binding entirely solid, with no cracks to the joints. Top third of front free endpaper torn away (to remove owner information?), but the text unusually fresh and clean.

Dedicated to Sir Hans Sloane and first published in 1735, this manual offers advice to new physicians on diagnosing and curing a range of illnesses by looking at possible causes of disease and by running experiments to analyze the blood and urine of the patient. In particular, the text discusses the antecedents, symptoms, and treatments for five types of fevers: acute continual fevers, intermitting fevers, hectic fevers, slow fevers, and malignant fevers. Langrish recounts cases from his own practice in which various diagnostic tools and cures were used. The work was translated into French and published in Paris in 1749, and an Italian edition appeared in Venice in 1766. Langrish's other writings include an essay on muscular structure and contraction, a report on experiments for dissolving kidney stones, and a brief pamphlet on dealing with small pox. At first training as a surgeon, Langrish (d. 1759) became a physician in 1734; he was an extra licentiate of the College of Physicians and elected a fellow of the Royal Society that same year. We were able to trace just one copy in RBH of the first edition of this work at auction, and the second printing is not a common book. Our volume does not have a striking outward appearance but is extremely clean and fresh internally..