THE ENLIGHTENED MR. PARKINSON: THE PIONEERING LIFE OF A FORGOTTEN SURGEON AND THE MYSTERIOUS DISEASE THAT BEARS HIS NAME.

New York: Pegasus Books, 2017. 306 pp, 9 1/4" H. B&w and colour illustrations. "James Parkinson (1755-1824) defined (the ailment now named for him) so precisely that we still diagnose Parkinson's disease today by recognizing the symptoms he identified. With insight and clarity, Cherry Lewis reveals the story of this remarkable man's contributions to the Age of Englightenment by examining his three seemingly disparate passions: medicine, politics, and fossils. As a political radical, he was interrogated over a plot to kill King George III, putting himself in danger of being exiled. He helped Edward Jenner set up smallpox vaccination stations across London, which would save countless lives, while simultaneously campaigning against child labor in factories. He also wrote the first scientific study of fossils in English, jump--starting a craze for fossil hunting in Britain, and became a founder of the world's first society dedicated to geology, the Geological Society of London. He was truly one of the intellectual pioneers of 'the age of wonder', forgotten to history - until now." Minor wrinkling at the top/bottom of the spine. Dust jacket has light edge wrinkling and some creasing at the top of the rear hinge and rear flap.. Not Signed. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Very Good.