Collection Guide
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Mitchell (George Alfred) Account Book
Biomed.0710
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Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: George Alfred Mitchell account book
source:
Mitchell, George Alfred
source:
Palinurus Antiquarian Books
Identifier/Call Number: Biomed.0710
Physical Description:
1 unknown
(1 account book)
Date (inclusive): 1853-1858
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Language of Material: Materials are in English.
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Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Palinurus Antiquarian Books, 2010.
G. (Geo. or George) Alfred Mitchell, M.D., practiced medicine in Michaelsville, Maryland. Coffin's Record of the men of Lafayette:
brief biographical sketches of the Alumni of Lafayette College from its organization to the present time ... to which is added
the historical sketches of the college (1879, p. 199) identifies him as originating in Havre de Grace, Maryland, attending
the university for one year (1847), graduating from Washington College in Virginia in 1852, and dying in Perrymansville, Maryland
in 1857. The catalogue of the officers and alumni of Washington and Lee University (1888) identifies him as a student in 1849-1850
(entry no. 1466, p. 109) and dying in 1858.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9964633643606533
[Identification of item], George Alfred Mitchell account book (Collection 710). Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History
and Special Collections for the Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles.
A manuscript record of physician G. (Geo.) Alfred Mitchell's practice in Michaelsville [Maryland?], commencing 1 April 1853
and running through 1 November 1856. Brief records were added in December of that year, then crossed-out. Entries, occupying
235 of 383 pages, were kept in a neat hand in a pre-bound, lined ledger titled "Day book", with pre-numbered pages; the ledger
has a printed label for "Joseph Hutt, Stationer, blank book manufacturer, engraver and printer" on Chestnut St. in Philadelphia.
All recorded visits are in Michaelsville or "Michaels ville". Entries are kept chronologically, kept almost exclusively by
the name of the male head of household, followed by "to visit to" and "self" or "wife" or the name of a family member examined
or treated, followed by a procedure or treatment. Some entries may be for hired help or slaves; some visits are identified
as "boy" or "child" instead of a name, and others include "to services for man Phil" (p.116) and "for services to man[servant?]"
(p.118). Named treatments include wound dressing, venesection, cupping, vaccination, whooping cough, and tooth extraction.
In March 1855, a line is added to each entry for medicines prescribed or sold (powder, opium, acid drops, etc.), and charges
are itemized for services vs. prescriptions. On 27 February, 1858, in a witnessed statement written on page 237, Mitchell
transfered his practice, comprising "all moneys and accounts mentioned, specified or contained in this book", to Bernard Mitchell.
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Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mitchell, George Alfred
Palinurus Antiquarian Books