1837-1844 WESTERN MEDICAL REFORMER. Very Rare Four Year Run of Alternative Medicine Journal!

An exceptionally rare near full run of an important alternative medicine journal, known at the time as "botanical medicine," "eclectic medicine," or "thomsonian medicine." Our authors are in rather full "tear down the establishment" mode. They show up at the House of Representatives, fight legislation, etc, And no wonder, one of their own has been tried and convicted for manslaughter in New York; in Congress sits a bill to make it illegal to charge for "botanicals."

Fascinating reading by a group ardently opposed to the use of mercury, calomel, etc., and, consistent with the emerging interest in Native American natural medicine, believe a more natural, holistic approach to health is warranted. Many articles invoke native medicine positively and most of the botanical reference contain the Latin name, the common usage name, and its original Indian name. 

Provenance, Dr. W. L. Anderson. Signed on ffep, "W. L. Anderson. April 15th, 1846" and circular stamped from his personal library, "Dr. W. L. Anderson, Physician and Surgeon. Knoxville, Tenn." Anderson served as the Camp Surgeon for Camp 45 [Knoxville, TN] of the Confederate Army during the Civil War,

Anderson was well-known and a long-time devotee of "Eclectic Medicine," his name being used to promote The Eclectic Medical Gleaner for 1889, "I am highly pleased with The Gleaner. It abounds in practical matter. It is incultum in parvo." Fascinatingly, The Eclectic Medical Gleaner had taken to calling regularly trained physicans, "regulars" as a pejorative.

The volume includes: 

The Western Medical Reformer: A Monthly Journal of Medical and Chirurgical Science: Edited and Published by the Medical Professors of Worthington College. Vols. 1 & 2. Worthington, Ohio. Printed for the Proprietors, by Scott & Gallagher. 1836-1837. 384pp

[bound with]

The Western Medical Reformer: A Monthly Journal of Medical and Chirurgical Science. Edited and Published by the Medical Professors of Worthington College. Volume III. Worthingon, Ohio: Printed for the Proprietors by Scott and Gallagher. 1838. 192pp.

[bound with]

Western Medical Reformer, ----Extra. A Few Thoughts on the Necessity of Medical Reformation. In a Lecture Delivered by T. V. Morrow, M.D. Before the Class of the Reformed Medical School of Cincinnati, Ohio. November 6, 1843. Cincinnati: Printed by A. W. Rawlins, Front Street. 1844. 16pp.

[bound with]

The Western Medical Reformer: A Monthly Journal of Medical and Chirurgical Science. Cincinnati, Ohio. B. L. Hill & Co. 1844. 192pp. 

Contents for Volumes 1 and 2 include: Interesting Case of Hydarthrus or White Swelling Treated by T. V. Morrow | Remarks on the Internal Use of Water as a Preventive of Disease by T. V. Morrow | Remarks on the Nature of Mercurial Combinations and their Effects on the Human System by J. R. Paddock | A Case of Sciatic or Rheumatism of the Hip Joint Treated by Drs I. G. Jones and T. V. Morrow | A Case of Dyspepsia Treated by T. V. Morrow | On the Pernicious Effects of Blood Letting | On Blistering Infants | Calumny Refuted and Medical Reform Vindicated by J. R. Paddock | Account of the Speech of Mr. J Haskell before the Legislature Relative to the Bill to Prohibit "Botanic Physicians" from Charging for their Services | A Case of Chronic Hepatitis or Inflammation of the Liver Treated by Drs I. G. Jones and T. V. Morrow | Remarks on the External Use of Hot Water and Vinegar in the Treatment of Croup and other Inflammatory Infections by T. V. Morrow | Opinions of Thomas Jefferson on the State of Medicine | Fainting of Females During Public Worship | A Lecture Delivered by Dr. T. V. Morrow in the Court House at Russellville, Kentucky on the Subject of Reform in Medicine | An Extensive and Distressing Burn Successfully Treated by W. R. Harmer of Kendallville, Mississippi | Remarks on the Nature of Mercurial Combinations and their Effects on the Human System by J. R. Paddock | Observations on The Consumption by Anthony Hunn of Kentucky | Homeopathic Medicine | Iodine vs Mercurial Salivation | Remarks on the Effects of Calomel, Blue Pill, &c | Cupping in Croup by I. G. Jones | Triumph of Botanic Physicians over Mercurial in the Case of a Derangement of the Biliary Organ | Neuralgia or Painful Affection of the Face Cured by Warm Water | The Reformed Medical College at Worthington, Ohio | Lobelia Inflata or Indian Tobacco | Amputation by Drs. Morrow and Mason | Signs of the Times [system of mineral quackery] | Knavery Exposed [slander against Worthington] | Hydrocephalus or Drops in the Brain | A Case of Amenorrhea or Suppressed Menses Treated by S. Willis of Flat Creek Kentucky | Observations on the Employment of Croton Oil as an External Irritant by R. Hutchinson | On Amygdalus Persica, the Common Peach Tree by M. Antony of Augusta Georgia | Treatment of Chorea atthe Hoptial de Enfans Maladzs in Paris | On the Use of Plasters | Sanguinaria Canadensis - Blood Root | The Use of Calomel | Macrotrys Racemosa | Remarks on the Nature and Treatment of Scarlet Fever | Remarks on some of the Causes of Dyspepsia | Antidote to the Poison of Arsenic | Althea Officinalis or Marsh Mallow | Observations on the Curative Properties of Hydriodate of Potass in Periostitis and Chronic Articular Rheumatism by John Clendinning | Distressing Sickness by Creosote | Remarks on the Nature, Character, and Treatment of Milk Sickness by T. V. Morrow | Animal Heat | Lectures on Comparative Anatomy and Animal Physiology by Robert E. Grant | Phrenology | Case of Tetter Worm Successfully Treated by Drs. Day and Harris | Equal Rights for Botanic Medicine Addressed in the Legislature of Georgia | Botany by an Old Indian Physician | Lectures on Comparative Anatomy and Animal Physiology by Robert E. Grant | Pleurisy | Cupping and Compression | Dioscorea Villosa, or Yam Root | Eupatorium Aromaticum, or White Snake Root | Effects of Creosote | Hydrated Tritoxide of Iron | Lunatics | Trillium Latifolium | Apocynum Cannabinum - Indian Hemp | Lecture on Milk Sickness | Podophyllum Peltatum, or Mandrake | On the Present Condition of Medicine in the United States | A Case of Polypus of the Uterus | Case of Fistula in Ano | Cachexia Africana | Gillenia Stipulacea - Indian Physic | The Virginia Dwarfs | A Few Observations on Dysentery | A Case of Diabetes Melitus Successfully Treated | Anatomy and Physiology of the Capillary Blood Vessels |  Hygiene - Rules for the Prevention of Sickness in Children | Foreign Bodies in the Respiratory Passages | The Philadelphia Botanic Sentinel and Thomsonian Medical Revolutionist | Artemisia Absinthium in Epilepsy | Qualifications of Physicians - Lecture Delivered before the Medical Students of Worthington by J. R. Paddock | Case of Recovery from the Insensibility of Intoxication by the Performance of a Tracheotomy by S. Sampson | Case of Recovery from the Influence of Opium by Artificial Respiration by C. Irving Smith [Opioid Overdose] | Dropsy | A Case of Masked Ague | The Involuntary Cannibals | Lightning | An Experimental Inquiry into the Modes of Warming and Ventilating Apartments by Andrew Ure | Remarks on the Physiological and Therapeutical Effects of Colchicum by Robert Lewins, etc.

Contents for Volume 3 include: The Legislature of Ohio and their Bill to Incorporate the Literary Botanico-Medical College | Ingenious Mode of Removing Congestion of the Brain | Lithotripsy | Quackery | Amusing Monomania [who imagines he controls the weather] | Richard K. Frost - A Thomsonian Physician of New York Convicted of Manslaughter | Post Mortem Examination | Calomel in Dysentery and Fever | A Successful Case of Amputation at the Hip Joint | Radical Cure of Varicose Veins and of Hernia by Acupuncturation | Tobacco | Case of Worms in the Urinary Bladder Simulating a Stone in that Organ | Poisoning with the Esculent Mushroom by D. O. Edwards | Macrotrys Racemosa or Squaw Root for Whooping Cough | Remarkable Resuscitation to Life | Action of Certain Medicines on the Heart | Gastritis | Pneumonia Biliosa | Thomsonism - The Term Reform &c | How to become a Crack Physician | On the Emmenagogue Powers of Polygonum Hydropiperoides by John Eberle | Case of Incipient White Swelling Treated Successfully by Cupping, Bandaging, etc. | Conditions Requisite for the Development and Health of the Osseous System | Influence of the Mind upon Disorders of the Body | Medical Influence of the Passions | A Pious Defamer Unmasked | Rhinoplastic Operation | Explanation of the Modus Operandi of Narcotics in Dilating the Pupils | Small Pox among the Indians | Striking Differences between the Anatomy of the Negro and White Man [this is an awkward read] | Nervous Diseases | Deafness Cured by Galvanic Currents | A Case of Chlorosis | On the Injurious Effects of too Frequent Purging of Infants and Children | A Passing Word to Reformers on Purging | A Spontaneous Cure of the Ascending Arch of the Aorta | To the Ladies [on the moral and physical dangers of corsets and stays] | Flora of North America | The Involuntary Crime | Medical Reform | Dr. Sigmond on Emetics | The Value of Vaccination as a Preventive of Small Pox | A Case of Indolent Ulceration | A Case of Mercurial Disease | Influence of Gravity and of a Depending Position on the Circulation of the Blood etc. 

Contents of Volume 4 include: Deleterious Influence of Calomel | Identity of Insanity by Examination of the Brain | Case of Measles Translated to the Brain treated by T. V. Morrow | Dangers of the Dissection Room | Hydropathy - Or the Water Cure | Case of Neuralgia Fascia Treated Succesfully by T. V. Morrow according to the New Method | Black Tongue Fever | The Abuse of Mercury | A New Medical Gag | Health and Medical Treatment of Females | An Important Case of Diseased Eye Treated by T. V. Morrow | Cancer Curers | Case of Diffused Ganglion | Important Surgical Operation by T. V. Morrow [a medullary sarcomatous tumor on the testes] | Acid Treatment in Mercurial Fever | Humoral Pathology | Case of Puerperal Fever | Effects of Sight on a Person Born Blind | Mesmerism and Dr. Kirtland | Surgical Operation under the Influence of Magnetism  [Hypnosis] | The Diet of Children | A Lecture on Mercury and some of its Preparations by Dr. Kilbourne | The "Eclectic Medical Institute." | Want of Exercise and Care a Cause of Mental Imbecility and Disease | Another Case of Surgery under Human Magnetism | Quackery in High Places | etc. etc. 

No issues were produced for 1839 through 1843; this is the complete first four years of an important alternative medical journal complete with separately published discourse by one of its leading proponents. 

Very attractive, period full calf binding with contrasting black leather labels, minor losses to them as shown; a variety of paper qualities evidenced throughout resulting in a range of moderate + foxing to crisp and clean between issues. Textually very solid, no markings, one leaf with a tear originating at the lower sheet, extending into text with no loss, but tender. 

Not a single issue on the market.