YOUNG George. A Treatise on Opium.
Pub. LONDON: Printed for A. Millar, in the Strand. MDCCLIII (1753) First edition. [xv] 182pp. [ii] of publishers adverisements.
Young's response to his Edinburgh contemporary Charles Alston , professor of botany and materia medica. Alston described opium's history and its preparation from poppies he had grown, the first person in Britain to have done so. Young took exception to Alston's conclusion that 'opium does more honour to medicine than any other remedy whatever' and counters this by emphasising the risks, using clinical experience, '…...that I may prevent such mischief as I can, I here give it as my sincere opinion. that opium is a poison by which great numbers are daily destroyed.'
Original full calf binding is aged and marked, hinges leather cracked, boards holding well. Text has very few spots of foxing and is in very good to excellent condition
Previous owners ink signature to title, 'Will Gossip 1755.' Bookplate: Ex Libris Anatomica K.F. Russell. (198x134mm)



Estimate $800-1,800