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A History of the Practice of Trepanning the Skull: 1. Frontispiece and Introduction
Robert Mynors, a pioneer of surgical treatment in 18th century Birmingham Robert Mynors was one of the… read more »
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A History of the Practice of Trepanning the Skull: 2. A Narrative of the Case of a Fractured Skull
A NARRATIVE OF THE CASE OF A FRACTURED SKULL BY MR. WILLIAM JONES, SURGEON. J. BURTON, four… read more »
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A Portrait of Dr William Small
Pencil sketch of Dr William Small, member of the Lunar Society and a prominent physician in Birmingham during… read more »
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A Portrait of Dr. Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin: Doctor, Inventor, Poet and Educationalist Erasmus Darwin was born at Elston, near Nottingham, in 1731… read more »
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A Portrait of Dr. William Small
William Small: Teacher, Scientist and Mentor William Small was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1734, the son… read more »
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A Portrait of Dr. William Withering
William Withering: Physician, Botanist and Mineralogist In 1741, William Withering was born at Wellington, Shropshire, the only… read more »
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An “ever-open door”: Erasmus Darwin and Lichfield
Samuel Johnson described Lichfield as a “city of philosophers” where Erasmus Darwinwas the most prominent of an outstanding group of… read more »
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Anna Seward and Erasmus Darwin
Image: Engraving of Erasmus Darwin M.D. Birmingham Central Library 3. Anna Seward and Erasmus Darwin 1756 saw the… read more »
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Chadburn Brothers, Optical, Mathematical and Philosophical Instrument Makers, Sheffield
Image from: The New Illustrated Directory Entitled Men and Things of Modern England, 1858
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Chadburn Brothers, Opticians, Sheffield
Image from: The New Illustrated Directory Entitled Men and Things of Modern England, 1858
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Dr John Ash, M.D.
Image: Print of a portrait of Dr John Ash (1723-1798) from R K Dent, Old and New Birmingham: A… read more »
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Floyer’s Pioneering Medical Publications
Image: St John’s Hospital, Lichfield. Floyer based much of his evidence in his book, The Physician’s Pulse-Watch, from evidence… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Ann Watt, 1794/03/12
Ann Watt was James Watt’s second wife and mother to Jessy. Dr. Darwin treated Jessy during her… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1788/11/18
Darwin writes to Watt concerning Watt’s health, with advice on treatments and remedies and various theories of… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1789/11/20
Darwin writes to Watt to request some details of the Boulton and Watt steam engine for his… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1790/01/19
Darwin thanks Watt for information about steam engines for The Economy of Vegetationand attempts to rouse Watt from… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1793/12/13
Darwin writes to Watt concerning the care of Jessy Watt, encouraging her to exercise and play sports.… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/01/01
Darwin’s recommendations for the treatment of Watt’s daughter, Jessy, who was suffering from tuberculosis. —————————————- Dear Sir,… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/04/25
Darwin writes to Watt with more suggestions for the treatment of his daughter, Jessy, including advice on… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/05/25
Darwin writes to Watt outlining a range of treatments for Watt’s daughter, Jessy. This letter includes details… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/05/29
Darwin’s advice to Watt for the continued treatment of Jessy. —————————————- Derby May 29-94 Dear Sir All… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/06/06
Increasingly unable to help Jessy Watt as she continues to suffer from tuberculosis, Darwin writes to Watt… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/06/11
Darwin writes to Watt after the death of his daughter, Jessy who died in early June, 1794.… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/11/17
Darwin writes to Watt concerning their efforts to raise money for Dr. Beddoes’ Pneumatic Institute. Darwin also… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/04/02
Darwin writes to Watt about his continuing experiments with the use of gases in medicine. Darwin mentions… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/04/28
Darwin writes to Watt of his experiments with gases and now seems to be treating patients with… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/07/09
Darwin writes to Watt about one of the various law suits over the patents of Watt’s steam… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/12/28
Darwin writes to Watt on behalf of a patient requesting apparatus for making oxygen gas. —————————————- Derby… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1796/01/18
Darwin’s recommendation of Dr. Salt as physician to the Birmingham Dispensary. —————————————- Derby Jan 18-96 Dear Sir,… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1800/01/21
On the evening of 29 December 1799, Darwin’s son, Erasmus, who was in debt, committed suicide by… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1769/06/09
Darwin writes to Boulton about Boulton’s infant daughter, Anne, who suffered from a condition, possibly a dislocation… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1789/01/18
A dispute had arisen between Darwin’s son, Robert, by 1789 a physician in Shrewsbury, and Dr. William… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1789/03/12
Darwin writes to Boulton of his son, Robert’s dispute with Withering. —————————————- 12 March 1789 Dear Boulton… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1794/10/08
Darwin requests Boulton help in obtaining aerated water for the treatment of a patient. —————————————- Derby Oct… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1795/03/13
Darwin writes to Boulton to recommend Dr Salt to the position of physician to the Birmingham Dispensary.… read more »
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Letter from James Keir to James Watt, 1802/04/24
Keir writes to Watt concerning the death of their friend and fellow Lunar Society member, Dr. Erasmus… read more »
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Letter from Robert Darwin to James Watt, 1802/04/21
Darwin’s son, Robert writes to Watt about the death of his father. —————————————- Priory near Derby April… read more »
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Practical Thoughts on Amputations: 1. Frontispiece and Introduction
Robert Mynors, a pioneer of surgical treatment in 18th century Birmingham Robert Mynors was one of the… read more »
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Practical Thoughts on Amputations: 2. Amputation of the Thigh and After Treatment
ON THE AMPUTATION OF THE THIGH AND THE AFTER-TREATMENT 1. Let the screw tourniquet, with a small… read more »
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Practical Thoughts on Amputations: 3. Observations and Illustrations
[70] Observations and Illustrations To Mr. MYNORS, Surgeon. DEAR SIR “I BEG the favor of you to… read more »
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Practical Thoughts on Amputations: 4. Of the Amputation of Different Parts of the Extremities and Diseased Tumors
[79] OF THE AMPUTATION OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE EXTREMITIES It has been observed agreeable to the… read more »
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Sir John Floyer (1649-1734), Physician of Lichfield
Image: Lichfield, c. 1686. This is the earliest print of Lichfield and was produced from a copper engraving… read more »
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The Lunar Society and Education
Image: Dr Erasmus Darwin, doctor, scientist and poet and friend of Priestley in the Lunar Society. His Plan for… read more »
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Toothpick box
The hidden hinge and decorative features are typical of neo-classical designs.