Key work by the surgeon in the U.S. Army who became known as the "Father of Gastric Physiology" following his research on human digestion. With inscription on dedication-page, "B.T. Wells, M.D., with the respects of M..B. Patterson, Decatur, Mich. 21st Sept. 1852." Signed by Wells and Patterson at the top of the-title-page, and signed by Patterson on the front board. At the end of the section on hunger and thirst is written in an early hand, "The most sensible definitions of hunger & thirst I have yet read."