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The casebook, the daybook, and the diary as sources in medical historiography
1Archives Committee, Medical Society of Prince Edward Island.
Insights
Nineteenth-century physicians
Area of Science:
- Medical History
- Historical Manuscripts
- 19th Century Medicine
Background:
- Physicians commonly utilized literary forms like casebooks, daybooks, and diaries to document medical cases during the 19th century.
- These documents serve as invaluable primary sources for understanding medical practices of the era.
Discussion:
- This study examines the writings of three Canadian physicians: John Mackieson, Jonathan Woolverton, and James Langstaff.
- It explores principles for analyzing their manuscripts to understand historical medical practice.
Key Insights:
- Physician writings offer critical insights into 19th-century medical case documentation.
- Manuscript analysis reveals nuances of medical practice, especially in rural settings.
Outlook:
- Further research into historical medical manuscripts can illuminate regional medical history.
- Understanding physician record-keeping practices enhances historical medical research.
Abstract:
Casebooks, daybooks and diaries were among a number of literary forms commonly used by physicians in the nineteenth century to record the details of their medical cases. Because they constitute primary sources on medical practice in that era they have value to the medical historian. To illustrate this, the writings of three Canadian physicians' -John Mackieson, Jonathan Woolverton, and James Langstaff- are discussed, together with a consideration of some of the principles relating to the study of their manuscripts, particularly in relation to the study of the history of practice in rural areas.
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