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The process of disease development and progressions was unknown to Colonial physicians. These best they could do with regard to explaining this phenomenon was provide a theory as to its potential causes, and use that theory to define how to improve the health of someone afflicted by such condition. Dr. Osborn learned medicine by reading a number of books and probably by serving and working alongside one of the local physicians. The first three authors Osborn mentions provide us with important insights into this process. He probably learned medicine some time around 1735, and completed his training and comenced his practice about 1739 or 1740. The authors he details above are three writings popular to the field around 1720, with some writers popular much earlier as well. This could suggest that Osborn learned with an older person read in the medical literature. But notice, none of the above three writers were published exclusively in Latin. So, Osborn read boks that were published in English. Dr. Sydenham’s work was first published in Latin, but was later translated and reprinted in English by one of Osborn’s authors cited, Peter Shaw.
Brian Altonen, MPH, MS 
