Aklat ng Panggagamot (Book of Medicine) is a seminal public health volume from the American colonial period in the Philippines, reflecting the urgent need for medical knowledge dissemination among the local populace. The book was published in 1927 by the Philippine Publishing House in Manila. Its author, Dr. A. C. Selmon, was a medical doctor with extensive experience treating diseases endemic to the region. The manual was specifically written in the vernacular Tagalog to serve as a practical household guide, providing families with fundamental knowledge on human physiology, hygiene, and home treatment for common ailments, along with guidance on when to seek professional medical attention. The book's relevance to national health efforts is evident through its official endorsement from the Director of Health of the Philippine Health Service, dated July 25, 1922, positioning it as a tool to promote sanitation and preventive medicine. By translating complex medical concepts and practices into an accessible local language, this book was a crucial resource in the early 20th century campaign to combat prevalent infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, and malaria, thereby aiming to improve the general standard of health and longevity in the Philippine Islands.
Aklat ng Panggagamot (Book of Medicine)