A Guide to the Barwick Bruce Medical Record Book, March 17-June 6, 1791 Bruce, Barwick, Medical Record Book, 1791 MS 96.11

A Guide to the Barwick Bruce Medical Record Book, March 17-June 6, 1791

A Collection in
the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Manuscript Number MS 96.11


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John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections staff

Repository
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Manuscript number
MS 96.11
Title
Barwick Bruce Medical Record Book, 1791.
Extent
1 v. (131 p.)
Creators
Barwick Bruce, John Austin, fl. 1791, William Tull, fl. 1791.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access

There are no restrictions.

Publication Rights/ Restrictions on Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred Citation

Barwick Bruce Medical Record Book, Manuscript MS 96.11, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 1995.

Biographical/Historical Information

Barwick Bruce was a Virginia planter who probably resided in Halifax County.

Scope and Content Information

A medical record book prepared by a Virginia planter who may have resided in Halifax County. Entries are thought to have been written by a man named Barwick Bruce. A contemporary title added to the front cover reads: "Barwick Bruce's Day Book Commencing March 17, 1791." Most entries are signed by either John Austin or William Tull. Each entry lists a date, the name of the person examined, and the treatment prescribed. Plantations mentioned include Edge Hill, Grome Hall, and Bay Plantation. A majority of the entries concern treatments prescribed for illnesses or injuries suffered by slaves. James Bruce is listed as the master of many of the slaves treated. In addition, some entries concern prescriptions given to treat planters and their family members. The entries provide insight into care provided by plantation owners for their slaves and family members and into different remedies prescribed for ailments, such as bleeding, purging, pills, and ointments. Genealogists may also find this manuscript useful for tracing the presence of various families in Halifax County, as the entries list the names of many different planters who presented relatives and slaves for treatment.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Index Terms

    Persons:

  • Austin, John, fl. 1791.
  • Bruce, Barwick.
  • Tull, William.
  • Subjects:

  • African Americans--Medical care--Virginia--Halifax County--History--18th century.
  • Medicine--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.
  • Plantation owners--Virginia--Halifax County.
  • Slaves--Medical care--Virginia--Halifax County--History--18th century.
  • Geographical Names:

  • Bay Plantation (Va. : Estate)
  • Edge Hill (Va. : Estate)
  • Grome Hall (Va. : Estate)
  • Halifax County (Va.)-- Genealogy.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Austin, John, fl. 1791.
  • Barwick Bruce,
  • Bruce, Barwick.
  • John Austin, fl. 1791,
  • Tull, William.
  • William Tull, fl. 1791.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Bay Plantation (Va. : Estate)
  • Edge Hill (Va. : Estate)
  • Grome Hall (Va. : Estate)
  • Halifax County (Va.)-- Genealogy.