Hypochondriasis: A Practical Treatise (1766)

A concise, eighteenth‑century handbook, this treatise gathers the prevailing medical theories of “hypochondriasis” – the catch‑all label for nervous and melancholic disorders of the age. John Hill guides the reader through the supposed causes, symptoms and remedies, laying out practical advice in the straightforward style of a period apothecary. The work is framed by a lively introduction that maps the shifting terminology from “melancholy” to “the spleen” and beyond, positioning the text as a snapshot of contemporary health discourse.

Beyond its medical content, the pamphlet proves valuable for anyone exploring the literary culture of 1600‑1800, when writers routinely wove the language of nervous illness into poetry, drama and novels. Hill’s summaries echo the concerns that animated figures from Burton to Austen, offering modern listeners a clear window onto the era’s obsession with the “age of melancholy.” The edition’s scholarly notes help situate the text within that broader intellectual landscape, making it an engaging companion for students of history, literature and early modern medicine.