Medical malpractice.- Sharpin (Dr. Edward) An Appeal to the Public in general from Dr. Sharpin, and Mr. Steward, Surgeon, of St. Edmund's Bury, in Suffolk; with regard to their medical, and chirurgical treatment of Mr. John Ralling, Apothecary..., 1764 bound with Norford (Dr. William) A Letter to Dr.Sharpin, in Answer to his Appeal..., St.Edmund's Bury, Wm.Green, [1764] and Steward (T[homas]) An Apppendix to the Appeal..., final leaf lacking lower outer corner affecting catchword, [Bury St. Edmunds], 1764, together 3 works in 1 vol., only editions, near contemporary ink note to front free endpaper and annotations to a few leaves, light soiling and browning, ink signature of Henry Hasted to front pastedown, contemporary calf, gilt, red morocco label, rubbed, upper joint split, spine ends worn, 8vo

⁂ An interesting collection of pamphlets regarding a case of medical malpractice with a notable provenance. A manuscript note in ink in an early 19th century hand states, "This book was bought at Sir Thomas Cullum's auction. My father was apprentice to Mr. John Ralling, at the time he suffered the illness mentioned in these pamphlets & remained with him till 1768 or 9. I have often heard him speak in the highest terms of Dr. Norford's talents as a physician. George Hubbard". And later, in a note on pp.42-3 of Dr. Norford's Letter to Dr. Sharpin he adds: "This apprentice, Mr. Hubbard, afterwards succeeded Mr. Ralling in his business - & for forty or forty five years practised with very great reputation...", and another on p.13 of the last item by Sharpin's claims of his expertise, "& what can all this have to do with the case?".

Sir Thomas Gery Cullum Bart. F.R.S., F.S.A. and Fellow of the Linnaean Society (1741-1831) was a distinguished Suffolk surgeon who practised at Bury St. Edmunds and lived at Hardwick House.

Rare. ESTC finds copies of all at Suffolk Record Office but few others and none at Wellcome.