Detached Hospital
The Brigade of the American Revolution, Southern Department
The British Brigade

PRIMARY SOURCES

Sources of Primary Documentation Used in the Recreation of the British Detached Hospital 1776-1783
Mike Williams, Commanding Officer

Note: There are references in this bibliography to books which were printed after 1783, the year that the Detached Hospital disbanded. I have used only those which in their narrative describe incidents that occurred either during the time period that the hospital existed or before, or express knowledge that was commonly known in the time period in question.

These references are marked with an * and a discussion follows the entire bibliography.

Acta Militaria (altere) 244. Instructions according to which all auditeurs of the General Staff and the regiments have to proceed.
Six page document available from the Saratoga National Historic Park, Stillwater, N.Y. on reel 63.

Allen, Dr. Charles. The Operator for the Teeth. Dublin: 1686

*Ballard, Martha. A Midwife’s Tale, The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary 1785-1812. Edited by Ulrich, Laurel Thatcher. New York: Vintage Books, 1991

Bard, Dr. Samuel. A Discourse on the Duties of a Physician. 1769. Applewood Press, 1996.

Bath & Co. A Description of the Names and Qualities of those Medicinal Compositions Contained in the Domestic Medicine Chest London: 1781

Battie, Dr. William. A Treatise on Madness 1st Ed. London: J.Whiston and B. White, 1758. The Classics of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Library, 1991

Beebe, Dr. Lewis. Journal of a Physician on the Expedition Against Canada. 1776. Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. LIX, No. 4, Oct. 1935.

Bell, A. and MacFarquhar, ed. Encyclopedia Britannica, or a Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. 3 vols. Edinburgh: 1771 (Reprint 1968)

Bell, Dr. Benjamin. A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Surgery. London: 1771

*Blair, Dr. William. The Soldier's Friend or The Means of Preserving The Health of Military Men. London: 1798

Brown, Dr. William. Litlitz Pharmacopoeia. Philadelphia: Styner Cist., 1778. Reprint and translation from The Badger Pharmacist, Madison Wisconsin, Numbers 22 to 25, June to December, 1938

*Buchan, Dr. William. Domestic Medicine or a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases. 2nd Ed. London: 1785

Campbell, R. The London Tradesman. Being a Compendious View of all the Trades, Professions, Arts, both Liberal and Mechanic, now practiced in the Cities of London and Westminster. London: 1747

Cheyne, Dr. George. The English Malady: or a Treatise of Nervous Diseases of all Kinds. London: 1733. Reprint 1992, The Classics of Neurology & Neurosurgery Library

Coste, Jean-Francois. Coste's Compendium Pharaceuticum. Newport, Rhode Island: 1780. Reprint and translation from The Badger Pharmacist, Madison Wisconsin, Numbers 27 to 30, December 1940.

Cuthbertson, Bennett. Cuthbertson's System for the Complete Interior Management and Economy of a Battalion of Infantry, new ed. Bristol: Rouths & Nelson, 1776

*De Chemant, M. Dubois. A Dissertation on Artificial Teeth. London: Barker 1797

Fauchard, Dr. Pierre. The Surgeon Dentist or Treatise on Teeth. 2nd Ed. Paris: 1746 as translated by Lillian Lindsey, Milford House, Inc. New York: 1969

Foster, Thompson. Personal Journal, October 19, 1775-October 23, 1777. Transcribed from the original in possession of family, circa 1938

Galen. On Anatomical Procedures Rome 177 AD. Translated by Charles Singer, Oxford, Oxford Press: 1956. Reprint Sandpiper books 1999

*Gregory, Dr. Clinical Cases in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, 1785-1787. Copy of hand written manuscript.

Harvey, Dr. William. The Anatomical Exercises of Dr. William Harvey, 1st Ed. London: Leach, 1653. Reprint 1987, Classics in Medical Literature, Lederle Labs

*Hunter, Dr. John. A Treatise on the Blood, Inflamation and Gunshot Wounds. 1st Ed. London: Richardson 1794. Reprint 1982, The Classics of Medicine Library

Hunter, Dr. John. The Natural History of Human Teeth and A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of the Teeth. 2nd Ed. London: Johnson, 177. Reprint 1980, Classics of Medicine Library

Hinton, John. Pharmacopoeia Meadiana London: King’s Arms 1756

*Horn, George. An Entire New Treatise on Leeches London: 1798. Transcribed by Ian Anderson from the original pamphlet: 2000.

*Jenner, Dr. Edward. An Inquiry into the Causes and Effect of the Variolae Vaccinae. 1st Ed. London: Low, 1798. Reprint 1978 Classics of Medicine Library

Jones, Dr. John. Plain, Concise and Practical Remarks of the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures; To Which is added a Appendix, on Camp and Military Hospitals. 1st Ed. Philadelphia: Bell, 1776. Reprint 1985, King’s Arm’s Press

Jullion, Paul Eurialius. A Practical Essay on the Human Teeth. London: Jullion 1781

Lind, Dr. James. A Treatise on the Scurvy. 3rd Ed. London: Crowder, 1772. Reprint 1980, Classics of Medicine Library

Lowe, Peter. The Whole Course of Chirurgerie Being a Facsimile of the First Edition of 1597, with Engravings from the Second Edition of 1612. London: Purfoot, 1597. Reprint 1981, Classics of Medicine Library

Northcote, Dr. William & Ramby, Dr. John. Extracts from the Marine Practice of Physic and Surgery, including the Nature and Treatment of Gunshot Wounds. 1st Ed. Philadelphia: Bell, 1776. Reprint 1985, King’s Arm’s Press

Pott, Dr. Percival. The Chirurgical Works of Percival Pott. Vol. 1 & 2. 1st Ed. Dublin: James Williams, 1778. Reprint 1985, Classics of Medicine Library

*Pringle, Sir John. Observations on the Diseases of the Army. 1st American Ed. Philadelphia: Earle, 1810. Reprint 1983, Classics of Medicine Library

Rush, Dr. Benjamin. Directions for Preserving the Health of Soldiers. 1st Ed. Lancaster: Dunlap, 1778. Reprint 1996, Sullivan Press

Sharpe, Dr. Samuel. Treatise on the Operations of Surgery, with a description and representation of the instruments use in performing them. 9th Ed. London: Robinson and Roberts

Spilsbury, F. The Friendly Physician. A New Treatise containing Rules, Schemes, and Particular Instructions, How to Select and Furnish Small Chest. 1st Ed. London: Wilkie 1773

Senter, Dr. Issac. Journal of a Secret Expedition against Quebec, Sept. 1775. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1846

de Sequeyra, Dr. John. Notebook of Medical Treatments 1740-1795. In manuscript form, in the collection of the College of William & Mary

Tennent, Dr. John. Every Man his own Doctor, or The Poor Planter's Physician. 3rd Ed. Williamsburg: Parks, 1736. Reprint 1984 Colonial Williamsburg Press

Thacher, Dr. James. A Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War. Boston: Richardson & Lord, 1823. Reprint 1994 Arno Press

VanSwieten, Dr. Gerald. The Commentaries upon the Aphorisms of Dr. Herman Borehaave. 1st Ed. London: Knapton, 1758

Wasmus, J. W. An Eyewitness Account of the American Revolution and New England Life: The Journal of J.W. Wasmus, German company Surgeon 1776-1783, Helga Doblin, trans., Westport, CT: Greenwood Press 1990

Wiseman, Dr. Richard. Of Wounds, Of Gunshot Wounds, Of Fractures And Luxations three treatise on trauma taken from "Several Chirurgicall Treaties". London: 1676. Reprint 1978 Kingsmead Press

*Withering, Dr. William. An Account of the Foxglove and Some of its Medical Uses. 1st Ed. Birmingham: Swinney 1785. Reprint 1979, The Classics of Medicine Library

Woodall, John. The Surgions Mate. London: 1617. Reprint 1978 Kingsmead Press

Discussion of References

Ballard, Martha. A Midwife’s Tale, The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary 1785-1812
I feel safe using this text because the practices of the midwife had changed very little from earlier times. We can also assume that due to Ms. Ballard’s location in the wilds of what is now present day Maine that there was little chance that she would have access to “cutting edge” medical knowledge.

Blair, Dr. William. The Soldier's Friend or The Means of Preserving The Health of Military Men.
Doctor Blair makes reference many times in this text to the lessons learned in the “late American war” and also quotes Benjamin Rush’s observations.

Buchan, Dr. William. Domestic Medicine
The 1st Ed of this book was published in 1769. The 2nd Ed. Which I am using had not changed with the exception of a chapter on Venereal disease which was left out of the 1st Ed as well as a few notes on lessons learned from the North American rebellion.

De Chemant, M. Dubois. A Dissertation on Artificial Teeth. London: Barker 1797
Primarily used by the hospital for it’s illustrations. For the most part it is nothing more than an advertisement for De Chemant’s method of making artificial teeth. It does have a few interesting tidbits on problems with “old style” dentures which is what we of the 1750-1780 time period would deal with.

Gregory, Dr. Clinical Cases in the Royal Infirmary. Edinburgh, 1785-1787
Dr. Gregory’s notes are the best example of records of a doctor’s day to day care of specific patients. I have been unable to find any other information of this type and feel safe using the information contain in these notes.

Horn, George. An Entire New Treatise on Leeches
A general text of the care and feeding of leeches. I don’t think that there was a great deal of change in this art from the end of the hospital until this work was published in 1798.

Hunter, Dr. John. A Treatise on the Blood, Inflammation and Gunshot Wounds
This volume was printed as a memorial to Dr. Hunter. Sections of this volume had previously been printed earlier. Of particular interest is the section dealing with gunshot wounds. This section records Dr. Hunter’s experiences as an Army surgeon in the Seven Years War, seeing service in Bellisle and Portugal from1760 until1763.

Jenner, Dr. Edward. An Inquiry into the Causes and Effect of the Variolae Vaccinae
This volume expounds on previous knowledge on smallpox. The illustrations are the most important part since is shows the development of inoculation sores to assist in their interpretation.

Pringle, Sir John. Observations on the Diseases of the Army
This book was first published in 1752; the edition that this volume was taken from was published in 1768 and was based on Pringles’s observations and experiences serving with the British Army in Flanders 1742-1745 and in England and Dutch Brabant 1745-1748. In 1810 Dr. Benjamin Rush wanting to publish a valuable medical text for the use of American military doctors as well as students at the University of Pennsylvania took Pringle’s work and published it verbatim with the addition of his own notes and observations from “the late war”.

Withering, Dr. William. An Account of the Foxglove and Some of its Medical Uses
Dr. Withering started his clinical studies of foxglove in the 1775/1776 period. They progressed until shortly before this volume was published in 1785. He freely shared this information with other doctors as shown in the correspondence that he included in the narrative of this volume so we can assume that it was becoming “common” knowledge at least among medical professionals.

Revised 06-27-2006