Women, Plumbers, and Doctors; or, Household Sanitation, written by Mrs. H. M. Plunkett (Harriette Merrick Hodge Plunkett), is a 248 page, 5 1/4 X 7 3/4 inch hardcover book published by D. Appleton and Company, New York. The copyright date is 1884 and this is a first edition: the book was first published in 1885 and the printed date on the title page is "1885." Very hard to find.

The book is in good condition, with olive green cloth boards and gilt titles, with a gilt illustration of pipes on the front panel.

Synopsis - From the Western Connecticut State University Archives abstract: "This illustrated work elucidates the author’s notion of women’s place in sanitary reform, suggesting that if women and plumbers did their whole sanitary duty, there will be comparatively little occasion for the services of doctors. Plunkett explains why women should interest themselves in household hygiene and offers practical information and instruction on matters such as soil moisture and clean cellars, heating and ventilation, lighting, testing for contaminated water, sewerage and plumbing, the germ theory of disease, and preventing the spread of infection."

"Harriette Plunkett was an American author and sanitary reformer. Through her husband, Thomas F. Plunkett, who was instrumental in the founding of the Massachusetts State Board of Health, she became interested in sanitary matters and was especially anxious to awaken in American women an interest in the theory and practice of household sanitation." The book is profusely illustrated throughout with diagrams and detailed line drawings.

Condition Details - The book has a square spine, hinge cracks, papers got wet as you can see in the pictures foxing, marks, at the top foredge corner of the first free endpaper. The text is very mildly and evenly toned. The cover has edgewear with fraying at the corner tips and head and tail of the spine, and the rear cover has an area of rubwear/stain along the lower third of the hinge. There is another small mark on the rear cover, and very mild rubwear overall. The gilt title and illustration on the front panel are bright; the spine titles are a bit dulled. The textblock edges are toned, with soiling toll

The item pictured is the item you'll receive, and it will be packed with care regardless of the shipping method