Locke later copied the paper into one of his medical commonplace books,
including some additional observations before and after the essay.
Anatomia
(1668 after December 15)
Location:
Public Record Office, London, PRO 30/24/47/2, ff. 31-38v.
Description:
The manuscript is written in Lockes hand, apart from the first sentence written by Sydenham
and probably after the remainder had been written. [In top and left margin]
There are extensive corrections in Lockes hand.
The manuscript is endorsed Anatomia 68.
[Dewhurst (publications #1 & 2) inaccurately transcribes this as Anatomie.]
Internal evidence suggests that it was written after 14 December 1668; it was probably completed by February 1668/9.
The authorship has been in dispute.
Dewhurst considers that the work was written in collaboration with Dr. Thomas Sydenham,
whereas Guy Meynell and Jonathan Walmsley argue that Locke was the author.
Meynell suggests that this paper, and De arte medica (1669)
were drafts for a preface to Sydenhams Medical observations
[Royal College of Physicians of London, MS. 572].
Anstey and Burrows (2009) provide definitive arguments for Lockes authorship.
The manuscript consists of four sheets of paper, each folded once to form a total of 16 pages.
The size of the pages differs slightly: c. 225 × 160 mm.
Publications:
-
Locke and Sydenham on the teaching of anatomy / by Kenneth Dewhurst. // IN:
Medical history. 2 (1958):1-12. The text appears on p. 3-8;
Dewhursts transcription is often inaccurate and does not include Lockes corrections
and deletions.
-
Dr. Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689), his life and original writings / Kenneth Dewhurst.
London : Wellcome Historical Medical Library, 1966. p. 85-93.
-
Las ideas antianatómicas y antimicroscópicas de Thomas Sydenham /
Miguel Sánchez González. // IN: Asclepio. 40:fasc. 1 (1988):252-263.
-
John Lockes natural philosophy (1632-1671) / Jonathan Craig Walmsley.
Thesis (Ph.D.)Kings College London, 1998. leaves 277-290.
-
Writings on natural philosophy and medicine / John Locke ; edited by Peter Anstey and Lawrence Principe.
Oxford : Clarendon Press, forthcoming. (The Clarendon edition of the works of John Locke)
Discussions:
General: Dewhurst (publications #1 and 2 above); Walmsley (publication #4 above);
authorship: Guy Meynell,
Locke as author of Anatomia and De arte medica (1994);
Peter Anstey and John Burrows,
John Locke, Thomas Sydenham, and the authorship of two medical essays
(2009).