The People's Medical Lighthouse; A Series of Popular and Scientific Essays on the Nature, Uses, and Diseases of the Lungs, Heart, Liver, Stomach, Kidneys, Womb and Blood; Also, a Key to the Causes, Prevention, Remedies, and Cure of Pulmonary and Other Ki…

xxiii, 470, [2] pp. 8vo. Original dark brown blind-stamped cloth, gilt titles & decorations, including boat and lighthouse motif on front board, and apothecary scales motif on spine head. Illustrated with 65 engravings. Hoolihan 3025: "Edward Bliss Foote... describes Root as 'a kind of irregular soldier in medical reform... He possessed a remarkable tact for formulating recipes of purely botanical ingredients... do not let us under-estimate the value of his 'Light-house' in guiding the people to the haven of health through the allopathic fogs of his time... The people's medical lighthouse was first published at New York in 1852... the book was immensely popular. A 14th and apparently final edition was published at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in 1857... Root includes in his text information on physiology, hygiene and medicine, as well as advice on conception (and its prevention), pregnancy, sexual hygiene and sexual disorders... Although he provides his readers lengthy descriptions of diseases, their causes and symptoms, Root does not describe their treatment except by reference to proprietary 'circulating medicines'... In essence, the book is a mechanism for advertising personal medical consultation... a 'Lung Barometer' for the self-diagnosis of pulmonary disease; contraceptive agents ('the French Male Safe and Prevention Powder'); shoulder braces; proprietary medicines (e.g., 'Dr. Root's Blood Renovator,' 'Dr. Root's Anti-Bilious Pills,' 'Dr. Root's Cancer Eradicator,' etc.); and a magnetic compass for the 'permanent cure of paralysis, nervous debility, nervous headache , spinal deformity,' etc... patient testimonials and press notices conclude the volume." (passage quoted from reference to earlier edition)