Wellcome Medical Diaries, Home Editions

CHRONOLOGY OF DIARIES:

From 1890-1891 the diaries were printed by Charles Letts & Co., 3 Royal Exchange, London. - this was noted in the title page.

From 1892 the diaries where published annually, jointly by Charles Letts & Co., 3, Royal Exchange, London, and Burroughs Wellcome & Co. Included Index of Remedies and Posological Table. The ABC Materia Medica is published separately in the same size as in the ABC Medical Diary and Visiting List for 1891.

From 1897 the diaries were printed by Burroughs Wellcome & Co at their Dartford printing press.

The 1890 "Charles Letts & Co.'s. ABC Medical Diary & Visiting List with which is combined the ABC Materia Medica" contained the following format: Postal Information including inland letter rates, Newspaper rates, book post rates, money order rates, telegram rates etc. Useful Memoranda - includes legal tender, fire insurance, registration of births, deaths, marriages and wills. Fees in special cases such as accidents on the Public Way etc. Obstetrical table Average frequency of the Pulse Chemical relations of Morbid Urine "The pocket ABC Materia Medica and modern pharmacopoeia containing a list of modern drugs and improved dietetic agents with their action and uses; directions for the preparation of Invalid and Infant Foods, Hypodermic Injections, Tinctures, Infusions, etc.; with tables and other matters of interest to Physicians and Surgeons." Memoranda Diary- a week to a page Tables for patients visits Cash Account Obstetric Engagements Vaccination Engagements Engagements under the Factory Act Accounts asked for or sent Nurses Addresses Patients Addresses Memorandum of Wants Memorandum of Loans Memoranda

This format was amended as the diaries progressed in years. Some additions and observations have been noted below.

1893 ABC Medical Diary and Visiting List combined with the Excerpta Therapeutica. Arranged alphabetically, in a condensed form, the therapeutics of all drugs in general use, both Pharmacopoeial and Extra Pharmacopoeial.

1897 published by Wellcome and retitled "Wellcome's Medical Diary and Visiting List combined with the Excerpta Therapeutica."

1901 Includes Information for India, including postal and Indian stamp duties and Legal Information. Published by Burroughs Wellcome & Co. London & Sydney.

1902 Use of colour in printing of advertisement and use of photomechanical printing of images.

1903 'Wellcome' brand chemicals noted.

1908 Diary includes prices list for medicine including medicine cases and chests and a pamphlet -'Illustrations of Medicine Chests and cases- supplement to Wellcome's Medical Diary' (2 copies).

1910 includes pamphlet, 'Illustrations of 'Tabloid' brand Medicine chests and cases' printed in colour.

1911 Chapter on Wellcome Materia Medica Farm with colour and black and white photomechanical prints.

1918 War Emergency Edition. 'Owing to the restrictions of printing facilities, it has been necessary to prepare and print this publication early in 1917. The conditions of production have also necessitated the omission of certain sections of the book.'

1919 War Emergency Edition. 'Owing to the restrictions of printing facilities, it has been necessary to prepare and print this publication early in 1918. Further, to assist the Paper Controller and to conserve tonnage, the therapeutic notes and certain other sections have been omitted, and the Edition with the diary portion ruled for 120 patients has been temporarily suspended.

1941 War Emergency Edition modifications to conserve paper. Diary section has been left unaltered, Therapeutic notes section reduced in scope and modified. Therapeutic index condensed and re-arranged.

1942 New section dealing with gases, smokes and liquids used in gas warfare.

EDITIONS
The diaries were available in various formats: "6" refers to 2 days per page; week to a page; month to 2 pages; 60 refers to 60 appointment entries per week in the diary section; 180 refers to 180 appointments.

THEMED EDITIONS:
Between 1906 and 1940 each diary was themed, often using a mythological god of healing and containing information regarding the deity.

Please note:
Although recorded in lists created prior to transfer to the Wellcome Library, no copy of the 1890 diary, WF/M/PB/09, was identified at time of cataloguing.

1891-1984

88 diaries

Duplicates have been deaccessioned.

Please see main WF collection description (ref. 'WF').