Regimental Practice by John Buchanan, M.D.

Having recently retired as a medical officer in the British Army, Buchanan produced a manuscript in 1746 called "Regimental Practice or A Short History of Diseases common to His Majesties own Royal Regiment of Horse Guards when broad (Commonly called the Blews)." He revised it in several stages almost until he died in 1767, but never published it. Kopperman (history, Oregon State U.) brings it to light, explaining that Buchanan based his account mostly on his observations while surgeon to a cavalry regiment serving in Flanders in 1742-45 during the War of the Austrian Succession, and that it is unusual in focusing on a single regiment and reflecting the perspectives of the surgeon. The Royal Army Medical Corps ended up with the manuscript, which is now in the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, as RAMC 1037. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Paul E. Kopperman is a professor of history at Oregon State University, where he has taught since 1978. Among his many publications are two books, Braddock at the Monongahela and Sir Robert Heath, 1575-1649: Window on an Age. His main research interests are British military and medical history in the eighteenth century. He is currently working on a book about medicine, sickness, and health in the British Army that served in North America and the West Indies 1755-1783.