Medical notes on climate, diseases, hospitals, and medical schools, in France, Italy, and Switzerland;

Early account in English of the stethoscope. First edition of one of the earliest accounts of the stethoscope in English, presentation copy inscribed by the author at the foot of the title, 'To Hyett Esq, with author's compliments'.

James Clark (1788-1870) trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and then joined the Royal Navy as a ship's surgeon. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars he studied for an MD in Edinburgh. 'After graduating at Edinburgh, Clark commenced his observations on the influence of climate on disease, particularly tuberculosis (TB), which was at that time pandemic. In 1818 he accompanied a patient suffering from TB to the south of France, Lausanne, and Florence. A visit to the Necker Hospital in Paris introduced Clark to the use of the stethoscope [invented there by René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec in 1816], which he introduced into his own clinical practice. Clark's continental experience inspired his first publication, which he dedicated to his 'affectionate friend' John Forbes. Medical notes on climate, diseases, hospitals, and medical schools in France, Italy, and Switzerland appeared in 1820. An extended version, The influence of climate in the prevention and cure of chronic disease, was published in 1829; it had the merit of giving advice on a subject about which very little information was then known; this ran to a third edition in 1841' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).

The recipient of this copy, William Henry Hyett of Painswick House (1795-1877), was a Liberal member of Parliament who lived in Gloucestershire and established that county's first mental health hospital. He went on the Grand Tour and possibly met Clark during his travels.

First edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author on the title; 8vo (21.5 x 13 cm); 2 folding charts at rear, a few small pencil marks in the margins, short tear to AA2, contents spotted; contemporary half calf, spine gilt in compartments, brown endpapers, marbled sides and edges of text block, spine partially rebacked with some loss, including from the title label, corners and ends of spine worn, very good condition; 249pp.