Title
The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus (Tenth Edition, Revised and Illustrated – 1959)
Author
Elliott P. Joslin, Howard F. Root, Priscilla White, Alexander Marble
Published by Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia
Image
Description
This comprehensive 798-page volume represents the tenth revision of The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus, a landmark text in 20th-century endocrinology. Dr. Elliott P. Joslin, one of the earliest and most influential diabetes specialists in America, originally published this work in 1916. By the 1959 edition, coauthors Root, White, and Marble had joined him in advancing treatment based on rapidly evolving research—including the use of insulin, diet modification, and long-term management strategies.
Joslin’s name would go on to define the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, and this edition captures the state of diabetes care just before the next wave of biochemical advancements.
Condition
Red clothbound hardcover in very good condition with minor edge wear. Spine and covers remain intact and clear. Former owner’s inscription (Thomas E. Reid, 1962) and library discard stamp from IU School of Medicine Library dated Dec 2, 1992.
Gallery
Historical context
At the time of this edition’s release, insulin therapy was evolving, and specialized diabetes clinics were growing. This book stood at the forefront, combining strict glycemic control philosophies with public health-minded education—a major pivot from reactive care to proactive chronic disease management.
Joslin’s early emphasis on long-term outcomes made him a pioneer in preventive endocrinology, and this 1959 volume captures that philosophy in detail.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Priscilla White, coauthor, was a groundbreaking figure in managing diabetes in pregnancy and pediatric patients.
Alexander Marble was a decorated World War II medical officer and insulin therapy specialist.
This volume contains one of the clearest early clinical mappings of islet cell tumors (see Table 61), including their frequency in different parts of the pancreas.
Many early readers of Joslin’s textbooks were required to adhere to strict protocols, which today might be considered rigid or even punitive.
Excerpt
“In Maxeiner’s case clinical recovery from attacks of hypoglycemic seizures followed removal of 75 per cent of the pancreas which on examination was found to contain 8 small islet cell tumors.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
As a diabetic care milestone and a detailed clinical artifact from the late 1950s, this book reflects a pivotal era in chronic disease medicine. Its condition, provenance, and connection to both Joslin and the IU School of Medicine Library make it especially relevant to my personal and regional collection.
Support Dr. Bebout’s Cabinet of Medical Curiosities
If you enjoy the history, the oddities, and the effort, help keep this cabinet open. Every little bit helps preserve and share the strange wonders of medicine's past.
Buy Me a Ko-fi ☕ Buy Me a Coffee ☕ Tip via PayPal 💵