BALLINGALL, George.

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Practical Observations on Fever, Dysentery, and Liver Complaints, as they occur amongst the European troops in India; Second edition but including the essay on syphilis for the first time; presentation copy, inscribed on a preliminary blank, "For the Court of Directors of the Honble. East India Company, From the Author", and with the bookplate and library label of Elphinstone, Carberry Tower; possibly William Elphinstone (1740-1834), Company ship's captain and several times director between 1786 and 1824. Ballingall (1780-1855) studied medicine at St Andrews and Edinburgh. In 1806 he joined the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Royals as assistant surgeon, and shortly after sailed for India, where he remained until 1814. "Ballingall did not see much action in India. However, he had to contend with the high mortality and morbidity rates which beset British regiments there. Conditions in India confirmed his belief that most diseases and illnesses could be avoided or at least ameliorated through preventive measures. India itself was not inherently unhealthy; rather, it was the lifestyles of the European residents that were at fault" (ODNB).The first edition of the present book was published in 1818 and in 1825 Ballingall was appointed Edinburgh University's first professor of military surgery. He was the first to describe "Madura Foot", sometimes called "Ballingall's disease", a chronic fungal or bacterial infection of the foot (not discussed here). His importance for military hygiene li

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