[David Daniel Davis, Professor in Midwifery at the University of London, who attended at the birth of Queen Victoria.] Autograph Letter Signed ('D D Davis') to his publishers Cadell & Davies, about his translation of Pibel's 'Treatise on Insanity'.

Author: 
David Daniel Davis (1777-1841), Physician Accoucher at the Queen Charlotte Lying-in Hospital; attended at birth of Queen Victoria; Professor in Midwifery, University of London [Cadell & Davies]
Publication details: 
Sheffield; 6 April 1807.
£320.00
SKU: 21696

2pp, 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is addressed, with Sheffield postmark, to 'Messrs Cadell & Davies | Booksellers | Strand | London'. Folded several times. He begins by reporting the safe arrival of 'The parcel', with thanks for 'attending to my request in point of time'. The letter continues, with reference to his 1806 translation of Phillipe Pinel's 'Treatise on Insanity'. 'The object of these lines is to suggest to you the propriety of inserting in the next advertisement of Pinel a recommendatory paragraph from the Oxford Review.' He gives two extracts which 'will perhaps answer the purpose'. The letter concludes: 'If upon perusal of the article, which is throughout exceedingly flattering, you should deem any other extract or extracts more appropriate I beg that you will use your own discretion.' From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.