First Edition. 8vo. in fours. 230 leaves.
Not in Sabin.
Surgeon General’s Library Catalogue (with imprint
printed for the author and without Woodward’ name) I, i, 722.
Jefferson’s copy was a presentation from the author, who wrote to Jefferson from Philadelphia on January 26, 1802 (3 weeks
after the date of the Preface, January 4, 1802): “Be pleased to excuse my presumption in addressing you, and to accept of the small compliment of a book, from some parts of
which it is hoped, you will find some amusement if not information.
"Notwithstanding many disappointments, it affords me much consolation, to live under a government; the head of which exhibits
the principles of a genuine Republican, neither is the liberality of your sentiments towards my poor fugitive countrymen less
agreeable to me who has now been nine years among the number. nor is your Philosophical and Literary turn less admired by
one who has passed many years in Physical Pursuits . . .”
William Barnwell, fl. 1793-1807, doctor of medicine, was born in England, and according to this letter to Jefferson above came to America
in 1793. His further correspondence with Jefferson reveals that in 1806 he was in charge of the Charity Hospital in New Orleans,
from which he hoped to obtain the Surveyor Generalship for the territory of Orleans, denied to him as it had been annexed
to that established for the Mississippi territory. The correpsondence between Barnwell and Jefferson includes a long account
by the former of certain parts of Louisiana, written on April 17, 1806, and an account of the present state of the Charity Hospital of New Orleans, written on November 10, 1807.
[964]
94
Fothergill on the suspension of vital action
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 40. no. 78, as above.
FOTHERGILL,
Anthony.
A new enquiry into the suspension of vital action, in cases of drowning and suffocation. Being an attempt to concentrate into
a more luminous point of view the scattered rays of science, respecting that interesting though mysterious subject, to elucidate
the proximate cause, to appreciate the present remedies, and to point out the best method of restoring animation . . . The
Second edition . . .
Bath,
1795.
8vo. No copy was located for collation; the above title is taken from the third edition, n.d., in the catalogue of the Surgeon
General’s Library.
Not in Osler.
A copy is in the
British Museum Library Catalogue and in the
Catalogue of the Manchester Medical Society.
Anthony Fothergill visited America in 1803, and was introduced to Jefferson by Dr. Caspar Wistar, who on May 29, 1804, wrote
to him from Philadelphia: “I beg leave to present to you two very respectable travellers who are now on their way to the seat of Government for the purpose
of offering their respects to you. It is most probable that you are already well acquainted with the name & great merits of
each as Dr. Anthony Fothergill is the Physician of Bath in England who has distinguished himself by so many publications all
of which are remarkable for ingenuity of science combined with active humanity. The Baron Humbolt has just returned from an
expedition to South America & to Mexico . . . These Gentlemen will recommend themselves much more than it is in my power to
do . . .”
On June 7, Jefferson wrote to Wistar from Washington: “
. . . Baron Humboldt, Doct
r. Fothergill and their companions arrived here some days ago. the Doct
r. was already known by his works, and the emigration of such men as he & Priestly to end their days with us is an honorable
testimony for us . . .
”
Anthony Fothergill, 1732-1813, English physician. He received a gold medal from the Royal Humane Society for this work on drowning by suffocation.
He retired from practice in 1803 and visited America, but did not end his days here, the rumours of war in 1812 causing him
to return to England, where he died the following year.
[965]
