Medicine -- History -- 18th century

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Account from April 1786 - Dec. 1788, for various medicines and spices.

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A.D.S. 1 page. Bill for June 14, 1751-April 3, 1752 for medical care, including one entry "Jan 10 [1752] To a large box antiscorbutick Ointm. for Mr. George Washington." Also includes entries "a Visit to yr Negro wench," and "Drawing a tooth for yr Negro." Autograph document signed, laminated, docketed "Rect. Doctr. Sutherland April 27th 1752 1.6.9.," badly charred. Receipted on April 27, 1752 for Dr. Sutherland by [ ] Peyton.

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Document, signed, 1 page, folded, writing on two sides. Town meeting voted to establish the hospital according to law. Dr. Daniel Parker and Dr. Nathaniel Cook were the physicians in charge.

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This document is an account of medical calls and treatments at Mount Vernon, mostly to slaves, from 8 March 1791 - 4 Nov. 1791. "Paid in full." Part of account, which should begin 17 March 1789, is missing.

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Dr. Craik's bill from Aug. 25, 1797 - June 14, 1799 for £ 97.11.9, for visits to & treatment of members of G.W.'s family and servants on all the farms--includes visits to attend Mr. Peter's child & "a visit to & attendce on yourself from 21st to 26th and prescription" £4.0.0--a dozen oranges--"Bleeding yourself ..."

docketed by G.W. "Receipt Doct. Jas. Craik, Bal. $128.88 27 June 1799,"

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Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, writes to an unknown Sir, possibly Armand John DeRosset Sr., regarding Rush's "second volume of medical inquiries" about his "principles on dropsy and pulmonary consumption". Autograph letter, signed. 1 page.

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A.L.S. 2 pages. Says Maria likely has the measles. Describes symptoms and treatment. Docketed to Mrs. Washington, Mount Vernon.

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Autograph letter signed. Mount Vernon. Nelly writes to McHenry about yellow fever in Philadelphia and the standard that she commissioned for a volunteer dragoon in Alexandria.

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Mrs. Washington can accompany the General anywhere now that she's gone thru smallpox [innoculation] successfully--expresses gratitude to Washington for his guardianship--"He deserves the Name of Father who acts the Part of one."

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Letter, 1777 March 12, in Alexander Hamilton's hand, from George Washington, Morristown, N.J., to Lt. Col. David Grier of the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment ordering him to submit a complete return of his regiment and to take new recruits who have not had smallpox to Philadelphia where they would be inoculated against the disease.

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Mrs. Washington is taking bark for fever and doing better--Washington will have Dr. Craik look at Roberts--if Roberts cannot do the work at the mill, Washington will have to employ another in order not to lose Fall business there--fears Anderson's health won't stand more attention to his work, either--will discuss his ideas on this later.

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Sending Julious (servant) for Kitty. Mentions Mr. Washington taking the Bark, probably for the treatment for malaria. "Our Ears are mending very fast ... please to send your Ear rings if you are resolved not to have yours now".

Scope and Contents Carriage is sent as Mrs. P. requested--expects to see them about 3:00--Mrs. W. has been very ill--sent for Dr. Craik at midnight--"Hers has been a kind of Ague & fever - the latter never entirely, intermitting until now. - I sent for the Doctor to her on Sunday last, but she could not, until he came the second time - yesterday morning - be prevailed upon to take anything to arrest them." On outside of cover Washington has added that since sealing the letter her fever has returned--please...

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George Washington's letter to William Stoy references medical treatment requested for Christopher, Washington’s body servant, who had been bitten by a dog with rabies. Stoy was a minister of the German Reformed Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He discovered a “cure” for hydrophobia and Stoy’s Drops, a popular cure-all medicine. Celebrated for curing person bit by 'Mad animals,' Stoy successfully treats Christopher.