Descripción
viii, [9]-186 pp. Original cloth. Cloth worn along top and bottom edges of front cover (see photos). Small piece broken off bottom blank corner of front flyleaf and title page. Pencil checks in margins and pencil notes on verso of rear flyleaf and on rear pastedown (I will supply photos of the pencil notes, on request). With the book label of James Elliott on the front pastedown (I will supply a photo of the bookplate, on request). Very Good. First Edition. In his Autobiography, Gross describes this work: "At the outbreak of the war I wrote a little Manual of Military Surgery, a kind of pocket companion for the young surgeons who were flocking to the army, and who for the most part were ill prepared for the prompt and efficient discharge of their duties. I was composed in nine days, and published in a fortnight from the time of its inception. . . . The work embraced in outline the whole subject of military surgery and hygiene. . . . It was republished at Richmond, and was extensively cited by the Confederate surgeons during the war. This little book was far more profitable to me, in a commercial point of view, considering the time and labor bestowed upon it, than any other of my productions. A translation of it in Japanese appeared at Tokio in 1874" (Vol. I, pp. 142-43). Rutkow, The History of Surgery in the United States, Vol. I, GS49. Freemon, Microbes and Minie Balls, pp. 61-62. COPY OF CIVIL WAR SURGEON DANIEL HOLMES, with these two inscriptions on the title page (see photo): "Daniel Holmes/ To His/ Son C. W. [Clay Wood] Holmes" and "Brigade Surgeon Genl Doubleday's Brgd". Clay Wood Holmes wrote a genealogy of his family: Genealogy of the Lineal Descendants of William Wood: Who Settled in Concord, Mass., in 1638. This book has details of the life of Daniel Holmes, including his Civil War service in General Abner Doubleday's Brigade (pp. 268-71 and 292-93). Because of ill health brought on by his surgical duties, Holmes's service lasted less than a year. "Daniel Holmes, was commissioned surgeon of volunteers by Andrew G. Curtin, governor of Pennsylvania, Dec. 19, 1861, with rank of major. Jan. 18, 1862, he was assigned to duty as surgeon of the 46th Pa. Vols., in the field near Hancock, Md., by order Henry H. Smith, surgeon-general of Pennsylvania. Jan. 27, 1862, special order, No. 21, issued by Major-General Banks, confirmed the assignment. April 28, 1862, President Lincoln nominated him brigade surgeon of volunteers, and the appointment was confirmed by the senate the same day. April 30th the president issued his commission as brigade surgeon, with rank of major. He was at once ordered to report at Washington, where he was assigned to General Abner Doubleday's brigade, headquarters corner 15th street and Penna. avenue. This brigade . . . was the principal defense north of the Potomac at this time. He assumed his position May 17, 1862, and was in charge of all the hospitals and forts in and about Washington. Soon the brigade was ordered to Fredericksburg. August 18th he was ordered to report to Major-General Burnside for special duty. August 19th he was assigned to the general hospital at Fredericksburg, which at that time had over 1,000 wounded, and medical assistance was so scarce that he did the greater part of the surgical work himself. The strain was so severe that very soon he was prostrated with an attack of cholera morbus and obliged to ask for immediate relief. August 27th special order. No. 29, issued by General Burnside, ordered Dr. Daniel Holmes, on account of delicate health, to report to the surgeon-general at Washington. He reached Washington August 31st, and was taken to the Penna, Hotel, No. 57 Penna. avenue, where his illness developed into typhoid fever. Attended by the surgeon-general, he was advised to resign as the only means of saving his life, so on Sept. 5, 1862, he tendered his resignation, which was approved Sept. 9th by Surgeon-General Hammond and accepted Sept. 10th by Edwin M. Stanton, secreta.
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