Four papers read by Fletcher at the Student's Medical and Chirurgical Society. The first three are preceded by introductory notes signed by Fletcher which read as such:
- 'On Mortification. A paper read by me on the 28 November 1843, at the Students' Medical and Chirurgical Society Pine Street School Manchester.' (ff.1-32)
- 'On Puerperal Fever. The second paper which I read on the 22 of March 1844 at the Students' Medical and Chirurgical Society Pine Street School Manchester.' (ff.33-51)
- 'On the cerebral circulation, the compressibility of the cerebral structure, and the bearing of this upon the phenomena of disease in these parts. A paper read by me at the Students' Medical and Chirurgical Society Pine St. Session 1845.' (ff.52-87)
Unfortunately the first page of the fourth paper is lost so that the title and date of its reading is unknown but its contents show it to be on the subject of the nature and composition of the blood. (ff.88-114)
It is clear from the change in size of paper for each essay that they were originally written as individual items and bound at a later date. Inscriptions in the front cover indicate that the volume was donated to the Manchester Medical Society in 1882 and was allocated the reference GO 5732 viz. their 1890 library catalogue.