Original Handwritten Manuscript Notebook Offering an Enlightening Documentation of Pediatric Medicine in Early 20th-Century America

On offer is a fascinating look at the practice of children's medicine at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States. The author of the notebook is an unidentified medical professional, likely either a student or a pediatric physician.

Much of the material contained in these pages is technical in nature. The notes detail numerous childhood ailments, treatments, commentary on nutrition, and characteristics of diseases. This is an outstanding synopsis of pediatric knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century. The following is an example of the notes contained within this journal:

"Diseases--Digestive System: / Mouth: Harelip--surgical. If cleft palate keep mouth clean. When feeding apply a 'rubber dam' to bottle to form a false palate. / Tongue: New growths--surgical; Glossitis caused by hot or any irritating substance. Ulceration of the [ ]--usually caused by tongue to teeth during whooping cough / Dis. Of Intestines / Diarrhea -- simple / infectious / Simple -- [ ] by food irritations, catharsis, nervous shock, fright, exposure / Treat -- laxative first follows by opiate [ ] chalk / A healthy mother's milk is the best food for a child during first year of life. Too much CHO food (carbohydrates) will cause a child to become fat ... Too prolonged use of pre-digested foods will interfere with internal digestion. ... An insufficient amount of protein will cause a child to become anemic."

This notebook provides a clear description of the state of medicine, especially as it relates to children, in America a century ago. It would be a terrific addition to a medical researcher's or historian's library of primary materials from this time. For a social historian, it indirectly speaks to the types of diseases that swept through American communities, and the state of medical science at that time. It is a superb time capsule of medical knowledge.

This medical notebook measures 8.25 inches by 5.75 inches. It contains 140 pages and is about 80% complete. The covers are missing. The notebook is a "steno-style" format, and the staples binding the pages across the top are intact. There are several loose pages but all are accounted for. The handwriting is legible.