Miscellany and journal, with notes on medical cases and materia medica interspersed with geographic and historical notes. Includes excerpts and reading notes from Johann Schröder on chemistry, Johnston (i.e. William Johnson?) on medicaments, and Hippocrates on critical days. Many notes on physiological experiments conducted at Oxford by Thomas Willis, Richard Lower, Stephen Toone, and Francis Smith, as well as Ward's own speculations on anatomy and physiology. Includes description of a breast cancer operation on a Mrs. Townshend and Dr. Needham's diagnosis as "a Melliceris and not a perfect Cancer, but it would have been one quickly" (leaves 99r-100r).
Language Note
In English, Latin, and Greek.
Note
Notebook used at several times: Oxford in September 1658 (fol. 1r-9v) and Stratford from February to October 1665 (fol. 10r-67v), spring and summer of 1666 (fol. 68r-ca. 100), and from 1668 to 1671 (ca. fol. 100-150v). Parts (fol. 119v-131r, 137-147v) are smudged and difficult to read. One of several volumes, originally 17 in number, known as "Ward's Diary." 16 of these volumes are now Folger MS V.a.284-299. For a microfilm copy of D'Arcy Power's notes on this and 8 other John Ward notebooks, see Folger Film Acc. 682 (original notes held at Royal College of Surgeons).
Publications about material
"The pen's excellencie" : treasures from the manuscript collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library / compiled and edited by Heather Wolfe. Seattle : Distributed by University of Washington Press, 2002, p. 77. Frank, R.G. Journal of the History of Medicine, 29 (1974). Extracts included in Diary of the Rev. John Ward, A.M. : vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon, extending from 1648 to 1679 ... / arranged by Charles Severn (London : H. Colburn, 1839).
Provenance
Medical Society of London MS -- Dr. J.A.S.N. Rosenbach, of New York (Sotheby's, London, April 4, 1928, lot 631). Formerly Folger MS 2073.5.
