The Nature of an Intermitting Fever and Ague consider'd : wherein is explain'd, the cause of each succeeding symptom

MALARIA, and its treatment. - Simon MASON (b.1701).

The Nature of an Intermitting Fever and Ague consider'd : wherein is explain'd, the cause of each succeeding symptom, and their periodical returns: with the best and most rational method of cure. Such cures also are accounted for, as have been obtain'd by spirits, acids, charms, frights, emeticks, catharticks, sudorificks, hot and cold bathing. With reasons and cases to prove, how the bark in many instances doth cure, and why in many others it doth not, and when judiciously given seldom fails; in order to obviate the mistakes of those who are prejudic'd against that incomparable medicine. To which is added, an extraordinary case of one widow Sparkes, of eighty years of age, who upon the cure of an ulcer in her leg, had her menses return, after they had left her thirty Years, and they continu'd their regular periods. London: printed for J. Hodges, 1745. Octavo (7 ¾ x 4 ¾ ins; 197 x 121mm), pp. [i-]iii-iv, ‘xv’, vi-xx, ‘xxii’, xxii-xxxiv, 289-292, xxxv-xxxviii, 293—296, xxxix-xl; 1-287, ‘286’, includes a 6-page subscriber’s list (with about 119 names listed).

Condition of contents: text block complete but misbound, (see above), paper fault void in lower outer margin of pp.xxxiii/xxxiv, 177/178 lower outer corner torn away, 120/121 with clean tear from outer margin into text, 120-134 with small tear to lower margins, some spotting and soiling. Contemporary calf. Condition of binding: worn, spine chipped, joints split. Provenance: 'Belcher' (contemporary signature on the title).

First Edition and rare on the market (the last copy list as having sold at auction was in 1976): includes notes on the treatment of malaria using ‘Peruvian’ bark (= quinine). Mason published the work by subscription and included a dedication to famous physician, Dr. Richard Mead. ESTC T75678 (9 copies in the UK; 5 copies in the US; 1 elsewhere).