[RUSH, BENJAMIN] THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL MUSEUM [VOLUMES ONE TO FIVE AND NEW SERIES VOLUME ONE]

Octavos, 6 consecutive volumes, mixed bindings. Good- to Good; 5 of 6 bound in contemporary leather, some with red spine labels and gilt titling, others with dark brown spine labels, Volume 5 bound in contemporary marbled paper with 1/2 leather to spine, with paper cover showing text under marbling; all have scratches and surface marks to covers, wear and tears to spine edges and corners; text blocks age toned but clean; foxing and light age toning to pages; MF consignment. Volume I, 1805 Volume II, 1806 Volume III, 1807 Volume IV, 1808 Volume V, 1808 Volume I, 1811 (new series).

Contains many entries by Rush including the first and only printed description and image of his tranquilizing chair.

From Catalog II

A run of Coxe's journal containing many of Rush's contributions, among them the first and only printed description and image of his tranquilizing chair: the restraint chair with its box for the head and its bucket beneath the seat, designed to still the maniac's circulation by immobilizing him. It is the most infamous object in the history of American psychiatry and, in Rush's mind, an act of mercy — an alternative to the strait-waistcoat and the chain. This is where it was published.