Holistic Medical Handbook of Physico Medical Therapeutics: ‘To my Dear Friend Reverend R Jardine from Wilfrid Cliff, D.C.’

A manuscript notebook of physico medical and therapeutic herbal remedies, including aphrodisiacs, with a gift inscription to the Rev. R. Richard Jardine from ‘Wilfred Cliff D.C., Amer Univ. Chicago’. Wilfrid Cliff seems to have obtained his qualification via a mail order diploma from the American University of Chiropractic Sciences which operated a mail order correspondence course allowing American holistic medical developments to channel back across the Atlantic to traditional British herbalists - a practice which gained a foothold in the U.K. via the Midlands and South Wales during the early 20th century. In a full page statement in Wilfred Cliff’s hand written to Rev. Jardine he offers to teach him ‘the art’ and promises to abstain from whatever is ‘deleterious or mischievous’ or give any deadly medicine or any medicine to produce an abortion.

The Rev. Richard Jardine was an ordained minister based in the Cardiff area who actively practised, lectured and wrote extensively on physico-medicalism in the early 20th century.

DESCRIPTION: c130 leaves, written predominantly to versos only contain ‘15 years of study practices’ including ingredients, tonics, therapeutic medicines and prescriptions. An A - Z index to the rear lists all complaints and page references for remedies. Pasted in among the leaves and to the rear pastedown are leaflets advertising ‘Trimmell, The Herbalist’ based in Richmond Rd, Cardiff, a hub for British medical herbalism which published many books and leaflets by practitioners like the Rev. Jardine.

Hard backed boards very good; sound and square. Lined leaves written mainly to versos with A-Z index to rear. Clean and legible throughout.