English medical notebook, early 18th century

From internal evidence it is clear that this notebook was kept by Samuel Glass when he was apprencticed to Nicholas Peters, surgeon apothecary of Topsham, between 1729 and about 1734. Several of the cases refer to Peters by name - alternatively described as 'Master' - and the author also refers to his brother as a medical authority [Dr Thomas Glass, 1709-1786], p. 63. Comparison of the handwriting with the known hand of Samuel Glass in Wellcome MS.2391/11 confirms the attribution. Apart from Peters, other local practitioners named include 'Doctr Starr' [probably John Starr MD, 1695-1757], p. 4, 'Doctr Hendle' [possibly Edward Houndle, fl. 1725-1783, of Barnstaple], p. 5, and 'Dr Dicker [Michael Lee Dicker MD, 1695-1752], p. 94.

The precise purpose of the notebook is unclear but it was evidently compiled as part of Glass's medical education, presumably as a permanent record on which he could draw when in practice himself. As such it bears comparison with other early eighteenth-century notebooks in the Wellcome Library, such as MS.3631 and MS.6919.