Name/Title
Swieten, Gerard, Baron Van ; Jones, John[et al].Description
Diseases Incident to Armies with the Method of Cure. Translated from the Original… To Which Are Added; The Nature and Treatment of Gun-Shot Wounds…Likewise Some Brief Directions, To Be Observed By Sea Surgeons in Engagements. Also, Preventatives of the Scurvy at Sea.. .Published, For the Use of Military, and Naval Surgeon in America. Phila.:
Robert Bell, 1776. 164pp. Includes a separate title-page for
Extracts for the Marine Practice of Physic and Surgery by William Northcote, (pp. [11]5-124). [bound with:] JONES, John. Plain Concise Practical Remarks on the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures.
Phila.: Robert Bell, 1776. 114, [2]pp. Contemporary calf, gilt-ruled raised spine bands.
Very minor foxing and soiling. Contemporary ownership signature on title-page. A very good to near fine copy in handsome original condition.
A notable sammelband of two important medical works of the American Revolution, printed at the same time as the Declaration of Independence. Robert Bell, the same printer who issued COMMON SENSE, published both works, and they appear here in one of his typical bindings.
Baron van Swieten's work is a scarce compilation of important works on military medicine. In the preface, Bell voices his hope that the publication of this work "will be attended with the most salutary influences, in the preservation of lives of many of those valuable citizens of America, who, as soldiers and sailors, are now contending for the mighty prize of Freedom."
Van Swieten's work offers treatments for a variety of diseases incidental to military conflict, including vomiting, dysentery, diarrhea, gangrene, fever, and much more. The rest of the text, which begins with a separate title-page following page 112, contains works by British physicians Northcote and Ranby on the treatment of gunshot wounds and instructions for naval surgeons. A note on the final text leaf, dated May 6, 1776, promotes "all the newest political pamphlets; either for, or against, Independency" published by Bell. A Boston edition of the entire work appeared the following year.
Bound here with van Swieten's work is the 1776 Robert Bell printing of John Jones's PLAIN CONCISE PRACTICAL REMARKS ON THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS AND FRACTURES, first printed in New York the previous year. Jones was professor of surgery at King's College in New York. Its imminent publication was advertised on the final page of Van Sweiten's work, so it was likely published in May or June of 1776. Jones's work address issues of wounds and fractures, with an appendix on hygiene in camps and how to run military hospitals "principally designed, for the use of young military and naval surgeons, in North-America." This is the first full length medical text written in America.
On the last leaf the ever resourceful Bell advertises publications as well as “splints for fractures…bandages for same.”
The binding is also typical of Bell; a plain calf binding with simple gilt rules on the spine. The publisher-bookseller often brought two or more of his publications into such bindings, no doubt so he could sell both at once. A wonderful example oftwo primary American Revolutionary works.Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
ReferencesOther Number
HILDEBURN 3477, 3407. AUSTIN 1843, 1085. SABIN 94063. EVANS 15100, 14814. ESTC W30866, W19179.Condition
Overall Condition
ExcellentDate Examined
Dec 23, 2025Notes
Contemporary calf, gilt-ruled raised spine bands.
Very minor foxing and soiling. Contemporary ownership signature on title-page. A very good to near fine copy in handsome original condition.General Notes
Note Type
In-House NoteNote
Rare. However, interestingly another copy sold approximately 2 months after this copy at Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts December 8-18, 2025, lot 88 for $17,920
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31200/lot/88/revolutionary-war-jones-john-1729-1791-plain-concise-practical-remarks-on-the-treatment-of-wounds-and-fractures-philadelphia-robert-bell-1776-bound-after-swieten-gerard-lb-freiherr-van-1700-1772-the-diseases-incident-to-armies-with-the-method-of-cure/
