"Dos Kind: Zayne Entviklung, Ertsihung un Krankheyten. Far eltern un nerses" ["The Child: Its Rearing, Development and Ailments. A book for parents and nurses"], by Dr. William Moses Feldman. London: E.W. Rabbinowicz, 1907. Yiddish. Additional title page in English.
Comprehensive Yiddish-language handbook for parents and caregiving nurses, with various photographs, diagrams, and illustrations. It gives detailed instructions regarding proper nutrition and hygiene for the child, in addition to guidelines on proper breastfeeding, children’s illnesses, health of the pregnant mother, medical care and medical treatment, caregiving, medications, and more. The book begins with the author’s introduction, expert reviewers’ opinions, a table of contents and list of illustrations. At the other end it has an additional title page, table of contents, list of illustrations, and expert reviewers’ opinions, all in English.
A wave of pogroms that swept across the lands of the Russian Empire drove roughly 300,000 Jews to flee these regions and immigrate to England. The vast majority of the immigrants originated from Yiddish-speaking communities, and few of them had much of a familiarity with the English language. In addition, information regarding medical issues was inadequate and outdated in their lands of origin. The present handbook was intended to introduce these Yiddish-speaking immigrants to the most current medical knowledge available at the time in their native tongue.

The book’s author, Dr. Moses William Feldman (1880-1939), was a specialist in pediatric medicine. Born into a rabbinical family from Pinsk (today in Belarus), Feldman immigrated to England with his family at the age of eight. He studied at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS), and completed his specialist residence at the Royal London Hospital. In 1907, at the time of the publication of this book, he was employed as a surgeon under the auspices of a charitable organization – the Royal Maternity Charity – while at the same time serving as a lecturer on the subjects of maternity and children’s diseases on behalf of the London County Council (LCC). In 1923, he was accepted for membership in the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Published various books, articles, and handbooks on the subject of child development and children’s health. The present handbook was the first of his books to be published.

Rare. Never offered for public auction.

XX, 154, [6] pages. Approx. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor blemishes. Two first leaves partly detached. Handwritten dedication on front flyleaf. Binding not original; blemished and worn.