Observations on the Diseases of the Army In Camp and Garrison Cambridge Library Collection - History of Medicine Series

This book has been described as a 'watershed work [which] has probably not received the credit it deserves'. Its author, John Pringle (1707?82), gained his experience of military medicine as physician to Lord Stair, the commander of the British army in Europe. The duke of Cumberland later promoted him to physician-general, and he served in the army until 1748. His 'observations' were published in 1752, and were immediately successful: this revised second edition was published in 1753, and many further editions followed. Pringle became acutely aware that the field and permanent hospitals designed to treat wounded soldiers were in fact a large part of the problem of sickness and death, since contagious diseases spread rapidly among weakened men in unhygienic surroundings. He made practical suggestions to improve hygiene and isolate the sick, but unfortunately his often simple proposals were ignored by the army high command for almost a century.

Preface; Part I: 1. Of the air and endemic diseases of the Low Countries; 2. A general account of the garrison diseases of the British in Flanders; 3. A general account of the diseases of the British troops, during the campaign in Germany; 4. A general account of the diseases of the campaign in Flanders, 1744; 5. A general account of the diseases of the campaign in Flanders, 1745; 6. A general account of the diseases of the campaign in Great Britain, 1745 and 1746; 7. A general account of the diseases of the campaigns in Dutch-Brabant, 1746–7; 8. A general account of the diseases of the campaigns in Dutch-Brabant, 1748; Part II: 1. Of the division of diseases most incident to an army; 2. Of the causes of diseases most incident to an army; 3. Of the general means of preventing diseases in an army; 4. The seasons compared with relation to health; Part III: 1. Observations on the inflammatory fevers in general; 2. Observations on particular inflammations; 3. Observations on coughs, and the phthisis pulmonalis; 4. Observations on the fevers called bilious; 5. Observations on the camp-dysentery; 6. Observations on the malignant fever of the hospital; 7. Observations on the itch; Appendix: papers 1-7; Index.