[ Health. Women's Health. ]

The Journal of Health. Conducted by an Association of Physicians. Philadelphia: [H.H. Porter,] 1830, [vol. 1; vol. 2:] Literary Rooms, Office of the Journal of Health, Family Library of Health, etc., 1831.

First edition. Volume one begins at September 9, 1829 and volume two ends at August 24, 1831. There were two more volumes published before the Journal of Health went defunct in 1833. An “improved” edition of the set was later published. OCLC records only four physical copies of the first edition of volume one (British Library, Woodstock Theological College, NYPL, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania) and two physical copies of the first edition of volume two (British Library and Woodstock). Physical copes of the individual issues are also uncommon. Volume two with text illustrations on 6 pages and a full-page illustration of a woman exercising; also with a six-page table showing the typical diets of people in various cities across England, as well as in hospitals. Some rubbing to sheep and fading to boards. Volume one is clean and fresh throughout. Volume two is largely clean besides some occasional foxing and toning. Some chipping and creasing to edges of a few leaves in volume two. A very good, tight set. Uniform contemporary half sheep, with red leather spine labels, over marbled boards. These copies assembled and bound for a subscriber, Lyman A. Spaulding, whose signature can be found at the head of several issues throughout. Two volumes, octavo. [6, index], 384 pp.; [1-2], [6, index], 3-386 pp. Item #16881

The Journal of Health was “the earliest serial publication in the United States that catered to the public’s growing concern with personal health, domestic sanitation, temperance, etc. It is also an example of an emerging phenomenon in American publishing of the 1830s: the mass-circulation of the periodical,” (Atwater 2053). The present volumes feature many articles on women’s health, including a guide to calisthenics for girls, a review of The Mother’s Book (1831) by Lydia Maria Child, the benefits of horseback riding and becoming a nun, woman surgeons (v. 1, p. 156), and a section that details the exact diet and schedule for optimizing the education of girls (v.1, pp. 265-268).

David Francis Condie (1796 – 1875) and John Bell were the primary forces behind by the titular “Association of Physicians.” Condie’s other publications included Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Children (1868). He also edited Fleetwood Churchill’s On the Diseases of Women: Including Those of Pregnancy and Childbed (1857). We could not locate any additional information on Bell.

Price: $750.00