Books Gleaned From a Medical Library

April 23, 2025

By Bruce Shawkey

Thousands and thousands of books are viewable and downloadable from the Internet Archive. I found a rich vein of old medical books from the National Library of Medicine, and here a few:

What You Should Tell Your Girl, by Edmond Thomas, published in 1914. Deals with topics mothers should discuss with their daughters, ranging from playing with dolls, to avoid being lured into the white slave (i.e., prostitution) trade:

The amazing record in the daily press of cases of the disappearance of young girls, of the operations of the so-called white-slave activity, and similar instances, make it plain that the problem before u will never be solved for society until it is solved in every individual family.

The Chiropractor, by D.D. Palmer, published in 1914, discusses the moral and religious duties of a chiropractor, as well as the science itself, purported to cure everything from fever to constipation provided the correct "manipulation" is administered. Today, while many consider chiropractic care to be quack medicine, many people believe in it and claim relief from many health problems, and most health care insurance plans cover some degree of coverage.

The Water Cure

Except from the 1846 book by Dr. John Balbirnie, M. D.

DRINK is as important to the economy as food ; and the craving for it is a more imperious impulse. It is necessary both to repair the waste of the fluids, to liquify the nutritive matters, and to dilute the chymous pulp in the stomach. It is questionable if much of it passes into the duodenum or bowels; -unless when a great over dose is taken : otherwise its usual route into the circulation is by direct absorption from the coats of the stomach. Nutritious liquids introduced into this organ have their aqueous parts thus absorbed—a route very different from that which the chyle takes to reach the circulation. The solid residue is then acted on by the juice and muscular motion of the stomach, and converted into chyme. This seems the indispensable condition of their digestion. Milk—nature's own liquid aliment—is thus acted on. When soups, tea, coffee, cho-colate, malt and spirituous liquors are taken, the watery part is immediately absorbed, and the gelatin, albumen, fat, extractive matter, gum, resins, &c.—this solid residue, of whatever composed, undergoes the usual action of the stomach. Water is the best beverage : the purer it is, the more free from extranenous ingredients, the better. Pure animal and vegetable infusions, as beef and chicken-tea, barley-water, toast-water, and gruel, are excellent nutritious drinks for invalids.

Tobacco: Its History, Nature, and Effects on Body and Mind, published 1849

The earliest evidence suggests that native peoples of the Americas were the first to use tobacco, starting as early as 12,300 years ago. Archaeological findings indicate that they used tobacco for various purposes, including ceremonies, medicine, and even as a trade item.

Civilization has long had a love-hate relationship with tobacco. As early as 1849, doctors were already warning about the dangers of chewing and smoking. Since its beginning, Nicotiana tabacum has been alternately praised and reviled. For a time, tobacco companies even paid doctors to come out in favor of smoking.

Talks on Rubber

An 1899 book about rubber goods used for medical purposes, sick-room appliances, hospital supplies, maternity and infant goods, Elastic stockings and supporters, orthopedic apparatus, surgical instruments and many other things.

Some passages:

A FRIENDLY BOTTLE

The best “Friendly Bottle” is a Hot-Water bottle. It is the friend in need, and should be found in every household. A Hot-Water Bottle is insurance against emergencies. It should be of the right sort -- the kind that neither breaks, leaks nor hardens; the kind that can be depended upon when the occasion arises.

The best bags give the greatest satisfaction, and are cheaper in the end. An inferior Hot-water Bottle is both unsatisfactory and dangerous. The breaking of a poor bag may seriously scald a patient.

All kinds, makes and sizes of Hot-Water Bottles can be had at Riker’s Drug Store. Very little ones for face or throat, others for head, spine or other special purposes, larger sizes for general use. They are made of plain rubber, or covered with cloth or flannel.

The largest assortment to be found in New York, made more attractive by fetching prices.