Title
A Manual of the Practice of Medicine, Prepared Especially for Students
Author
Arthur A. Stevens, A.M., M.D.
Image
Description
This is the Twelfth Edition, Revised (1928) of A Manual of the Practice of Medicine by Dr. Arthur A. Stevens. Published in Philadelphia and London by W. B. Saunders Company, this student-oriented text provided a compact yet authoritative guide to the diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions.
The manual covers core topics such as diseases of the blood, infectious diseases, fever, and internal medicine essentials—designed for use by medical students and young physicians in training.
Condition
Cloth-bound hardcover with gilt spine lettering. Some cover wear and light fading, but binding remains solid. Interior pages are clean, legible, and remarkably well-preserved.
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Historical context
First published in the late 19th century, Stevens’ manual was widely used in American medical schools as a practical, condensed reference. It reflects a transitional period in medical education, emphasizing applied therapeutics and clinical practicality during the rise of modern teaching hospitals.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
W. B. Saunders Company was one of the most influential medical publishers of the 20th century.
The book was marketed as a student’s companion, bridging textbook knowledge with bedside application.
Stevens included memorable quotations in his works—this edition’s title page carries a poetic line: “…is an arch wherethro’ Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades Forever and forever when I move.”
Excerpt
From Infectious Diseases – Fever:
“Fever is an abnormal condition, characterized by elevated temperature, quickened respiration and circulation, faulty secretions, and increased tissue-waste.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This manual represents the standardization of early 20th-century medical training. Its structured approach to disease reflects how future physicians were taught to recognize and manage illness at a time when laboratory diagnostics were still limited.
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