Langsdale (or Langdale), Edward (1610-1683) (& others)

Collection of medical receipts and prescriptions begun by Dr. Langdale of Leeds, with additions by Richard Drake and others. Mainly in Latin, with a few entries in English. Produced in Leeds.

c. 1675-c. 1750

1 volume 5 ll. + 156 pp. + 14 ll. 12mo. 13 × 71/2 cm. Original calf binding. Lower cover wanting. Pp. 13/14, 51/52, 57-66 are missing.

Purchased at Sotheby's 17/12/1941, Lot 602 (part).

A note on the last leaf states that: 'These two Books contain the physical Remarks of that celebrated Physician Dr. Langsdale of Leeds, Yorkshire, who was Father to Mary Potter, my Mother's Aunt. Which books, I got at the Sale of her Goods at York. R. Drake'. The original compiler of this MS. is also named as 'Langdale' on p. 54. He is buried in St. John's Church Leeds. Mrs. Mary Potter died in 1729, and left £2,000 for an almshouse, built near St. John's Church, Leeds, where she is also buried. [Cf. J. Mayhall. Annals of Yorkshire, 1866, Vol. I, p. 121.]

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

Pasted inside the upper cover is the armorial book-plate of the Drake Family, and above it an inscription by Nathan Drake, Essayist and physician [1766-1836] 'Natn: Drake. Given me by my Mother who got this Book at the Death of my Uncle Richard'. The date 1754 is found on p. 142, apparently by the hand of Richard Drake, who has not been otherwise identified.