A Physician from the Obama Domain

KONDŌ, Kenzan 近藤謙山.

Tassei zusetsu 達生圖說 [Parturition Illustrated].

31 double-page & 81 single-page woodcuts in the text. .5, 41; 69; 68.5 folding leaves. Three vols. 8vo, orig. semi-stiff wrappers, block-printed title labels, new stitching. Edo, Kyoto, & Osaka: 1858.

First edition and most uncommon. “This work on obstetrics…was the work of Kondō Naoyoshi (also known as Taizō or Kenzan, 1814-1861), and was published in 1858. This is Kondo’s only work and little is known about his life: he was an official doctor in the Obama domain in the province of Wakasa; in 1858 he moved to Kyoto and began to practice medicine there…At the outset he provides a detailed explanation of the female genital organs and their relation to the womb and goes on to examination and diagnosis, all illustrated with line drawings. He recommends various kinds of massage, and when preparing for birth he, like others before him, insisted on the use of a rolled-up bed cover for the patient to sit up against and showed how this was to be folded. The process of birth is covered in numerous illustrations showing each stage, and he also deals with still births, post-partural problems and the care of babies.”–Kornicki, “Japanese Medical and Scientific Books in the Wellcome Library,” pdf, p. 44.

Kondō discusses the difficulties relating to the delivery of twins, triplets, and quadruplets. He offers a number of herbal medicine recipes.

Very nice set.

❧ Mestler, A Galaxy of Old Japanese Medical Books, II, pp. 491 & 495.

Price: $5,500.00

Item ID: 10708