SPANISH TRANSLATION OF BRITISH MEDICAL WORK
Skeete, Thomas [Navas, Juan de]: Experimentos y observaciones sobre la quina encanutada y roxa, comprehensivos de algunos efectos notables, que proceden de la accion mutua de la quina comun de la leche de tierra. Madrid, en la Imprenta Real, por Don Pedro Julian Pereyra, 1799.
Spanish edition of the 1786 work by Thomas Skeete (1757-1789), 'Experiments and Observations on quilled and red Peruvian bark: among which are included, some remarkable Effects arising from the Action of Common Bark and Magnesia upon each other'. The edition includes new long footnotes with observations by the translator. It is interesting to see knowledge transfer from the British colonial Americas to the Spanish reading public on the subject of American medicine. Skeete was born in Barbados, and initially trained there before coming to Britain.
On the third page of the book, Navas (who is otherwise known for a textbook on childbirth) is posthumously commemorated by his widow, children and friends. He is announced on the title-page to have been a professor, librarian and assistant director of the Royal College of Surgery of San Carlos in Madrid.
Description
One volume, 20.9 cms. x 14.5cms. in binding, quarto, pp. [4] [III]-VIII, 189 [1]. Signed: []5, A-Z4, 2A3. Woodcut device of the Imprenta Real to title-page. Light or medium browning, bound in contemporary polished speckled sheep, spine ruled in gilt with red goatskin gilt label, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, edges speckled blue (slight wear, a piece loosening at tail, wormhole in spine).
Provenance marks: an ink flourish over title-page device.
Bibliography
CCPB000567098-5. Aguilar Piñal VI 255. Palau 315065 (miscopied author-name and imprint year). OCLC shows copies in North America at Arizona State.
William Munk, 'Thomas Skeete, b. 1757, d. 29 May 1789'. https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/thomas-skeete (accessed 12 November 2024).