Lot 63
Smallpox in Orkney - a doctor's manuscript journal
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 14 February 2018 at 10:00 GMT
Description
Jurnal of Jurney to N Ronaldsha this 10th Septr 1786, written by Andrew Munro, 14 manuscript pages, bound in modern orange morocco with a typed transcription of the text, 17 x 11cm
Footnote
Note: Andrew Munro is recorded as having been a surgeon in Kirkwall. This short journal records his visit to the islands of North Ronaldsay and Sanday to investigate outbreaks of smallpox, and treat other ailments, particularly amongst the islands' children. Part of his account reads: "Since morning = some of David Dreaver's Children very bad applys a Blister to one of them which from appirance was dei=ing in the chincough [whooping cough] & Bleed two of them in the arm and gave to those able to bear it a gentle puck of Ipocacuan..." Munro also visits a boy on Sanday who seems to be suffering from smallpox. Munro describes how he gives the child "confections" in return for a sample of smallpox blisters from his arm.
Provenance: From the collection of the Late John Davie Manson Robertson, CBE, DL, FRSA