A Treatise on the Venereal Disease

 John Hunter; Joseph Adams

J. Webster, 1818

First American edition Bound in full contemporary leather. xx, 367, xv, [6] leaves of plates : illustrations ; 22 cm. Rubbing, joints splitting.

At the time Hunter was considered the authority on venereal diseases. He thought that gonorrhea and syphilis were caused by a single pathogen.  He inoculated a patient with gonorrhea, using a needle that was unknowingly contaminated with syphilis.  When the patient contracted both syphilis and gonorrhea, Hunter claimed it proved his erroneous theory that there was only one venereal disease.  He championed its treatment with mercury and cauterization. He included his findings in his Treatise on the Venereal Disease, first issued in 1786.  Because of Hunter's reputation, knowledge concerning the true nature of gonorrhea and syphilis was retarded, and it was not until 51 years later that his theory was proved to be wrong.

Early signature of G. R. B. Horner, USN.  Horner (Gustavus Richard Brown, 1804-1892) served as the Fleet Surgeon, Pacific Squadron, during the Civil War he served on the Gulf Blockading Squadron.  Includes bibliographic information about Horner and his various posting (he served from 1826-1866 in the navy and later was appointed Medical Director by USS Grant).