Offered for sale by Adam Langlands of 'Shadowrock Rare Books' - for more information please contact him via email at adamlanglands@gmail.com 

The Ladies Physical Directory, or, a treatise of all the weaknesses, indispositions, and diseases peculiar to the female sex, from eleven years of age to fifty or upwards..., by a Physician. The Eighth edition, with some very material additions. London: sold, by the Author’s Appointment, only at the Gentlewoman’s at the Two Blue Posts in Haydon Yard in the Minories, [1742]. Octavo (7 3/4 x 4 5/8in; 197 x 117mm). Pp. [i-viii], 1-104.  Contemporary calf, covers with blind ruled and tooled borders (rubbed and scuffed, small splits to joints [see images]).

Very rare, no copies for sale or sold: an excellent unsophisticated copy. This work is wide-ranging (see below) but its primary purpose seems to have been to explain and 'push' 17 different medicines that the publishers offered for sale, all at the same address as the book. 

This work was probably part of a generational 'medical' practice, as the first edition (under the title 'A rational account of the natural weaknesses of women' pp.[16] 79 [1].) was first issued in 1716. It appears to have been a steady seller over the next 25 years, but only two other 'editions' are recorded by ESTC: a 'third' edition [the first known under the present title] appeared in 1727 (pp.[8] 72); then again in 1739, a 'seventh' edition with pp.[8], 100. The present work purports to be the 'eighth' edition. ESTC notes that pp.[43]-104 contain 'A practical discourse on barreness in women' with its own titlepage.

The full title gives a remarkably full account of the contents: 'The Ladies Physical Directory, or, a Treatise of all the weaknesses, indispositions, and diseases peculiar to the female sex, from eleven years of age to fifty and upwards. By which Women and Maids of the meanest Capacity may perfectly understand the Symptoms, Nature, and true Cause of their own Illnesses, and readily know how to manage themselves under all their Infirmities. With Proper Remedies, in English prescribed, for the Green-Sickness, Obstructions, Immoderate Fluxes, Hysterick Affections, the Piles, and every other Disorder or Distemper the Fair Sex are particularly liable to; whereby they may certainly and quickly cure themselves, without Trouble, the Advice, or Knowledge of any other Person. To which is Annex’d, A Practical Discourse on Barrenness in Women, and Impotency, Infertility, and Seminal Weaknesses in Men. Directing How they may be infallibly cured, and those Women render’d fruitful, who have been deem’d incurably Barren for many Years; and such Men become able to propagate their Species, who through Imbecility, Seminal Disorders, &c. have for several Years thought it impossible. With A Clear and very particular Account of Generation and Conception; and a Digression concerning the Method of Begetting Sons rather than Daughters, or of Daughters rather than Sons. Also Of Miscarriage in Women, and how it may be assuredly prevented, even in those who have miscarried nine or ten Times before; with Directions to Ladies how to conduct themselves during their Pregnancy and in Child-Bed, and how to cause a safe and easy Delivery. Likewise Ample Instructions to Midwives and Nurses, how to treat their Child-Bed Women with Safety and Success, and several Remedies proper to be administer’d, communicated without Reserve; as also Directions for the better Management of new-born Infants, so as more certainly to preserve their Lives; with a Dissertation concerning Suckling of Children, and Bringing them up by Hand. The Whole Illustrated With various Cases of Persons cured, proper Hints, useful Cautions, Observations, and Instructions, the like for General Benefit to both Sexes never before Published; and highly necessary for every Family in the Nation.' 

ESTC T18466 (3 copies listed: 2 in the UK, 1 in the US).