important early account of epilepsy

First edition of this volume on mental illness that contains 'the best early account of epilepsy after [Thomas] Willis [1667]' (Garrison-Morton, A Medical Bibliography 4809).

It 'contained detailed accounts of the clinical features of the epilepsies including "epileptic delirium" and the first mention of status epilepticus as well as of the post-ictal plegias... It was based on the casebooks and his own patients at the Bristol Informary and at St. Peter's Hospital where the other lunatic poor of Bristol, officially called "frenzy patients", had been housed since 1699. It is therefore an important book in the history of neurology and illustrates... that psychiatry and neurology were not then separate as they are today, and organic disturbances of higher cerebral functions fell within the purview of the psychological physician' (Hunter & Macalpine, Diseases of the Nervous System, pp 838-39).

First edition; 8vo (208 x 126 mm); just a little spotting at the beginning of chapter 1, some tan streaks to pages 252 and 253 from the silk bookmark also slightly affecting surrounding leaves, small abrasion in the front blank; recently rebound to style in quarter brown morocco, spine gilt in compartments, red morocco label, marbled boards and edges, spine faded and just a little rubbed at the ends, a very good copy; 425pp.

Garrison-Morton (A Medical Bibliography), 4809.