[Sierra Leone] Winterbottom, Thomas An Account of the Native Americans in the Neighbourhood of

[Sierra Leone] Winterbottom, Thomas An Account of the Native Americans in the Neighbourhood of Sierra Leone London: Printed by C. Whittingham, sold by John Hatchard, 1803. First edition, 2 volumes, [with the scarce vol. 2 which was partly suppressed], 8vo, [xv], 362, [xxii]; [iv], 283, [xi]; folding map, folding chart and 6 engraved plates (2 folding), contemporary tree calf, embossed coat-of-arms with motto "Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense" on covers, neatly rebacked, spine gilts, red and green morocco lettering pieces, corners neatly repaired Qty: (2) Note: Winterbottom was appointed physician to Sierra Leone in 1792 where he resided for seven years. In his youth he was a strong supporter of the abolition of the slave trade and afterwards advocated emancipation. The present work is the main source of his reputation as a clinical observer. It contains his classic description of sleeping sickness, trypanosomiasis, amongst local Africans. The work is one of the earliest English books to describe sleeping sickness (pages 29-31). Dr Winterbottom noticed that slave dealers would not buy slaves whose neck glands showed signs of enlargement. Volume two deals entirely with the diseases prevalent in Sierra Leone especially dysentery and malaria. It also contains detailed information on venereal disease, childbirth, abortion, male and female circumcision etc. which led to the second volume being suppressed in some circles.