Milestones of Science Books

BELL, Charles.

Surgical Observations, being a Quarterly Report of Cases in Surgery, treated in the Middlesex Hospital, in the cancer establishment, and in private practice: embracing an account of the anatomical and pathological researches in the School of Windmill Street.

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1816-1818.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #004097

Print dates 1816-1818. Two volumes of five parts bound in one. 8vo (214 x 129 mm). Vol. I: xxiv, 500 pp. and 15 plates; vol. II: xii, 140 pp. and 5 plates (one folding). In total 20 (of 20) engraved plates. Bound in 20th-century half calf laid over contemporary marbled boards, spine with gilt-lettered red morocco label, minor gilt tooling. Text and plates with light even age-toning, occasional minor spotting, small brown-stain from binders-glue to outer corners of first and final few pages; some captions of plates trimmed, minor offsetting from plates; upper outer blank corner of second title torn. Provenance: Bath Medical Library (ink stamp on first title-leaf verso and final text page); Irwin J. Pincus (his sale, Christie's New York, 6 December 2004, lot 39). A very good copy. ----

FIRST EDITION, AND VERY RARE COMPLETE AS HERE, of Sir Charles Bell's reports of surgical cases he encountered at the Middlesex Hospital, John Hunter's Old Windmill Street School of Anatomy, the Cancer Establishment, and in private practice, treating the cases from an anatomical and operative point of view, mentioning only briefly the use of medicative substances.
"Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon and anatomist, was one of the greatest scientists in medical history. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, he spent the major part of his professional career in London before returning to his alma mater as professor of surgery for the last few years of his life. Among his many contributions to medical science may be included his role in establishing the motor and sensory pathways of the spinal nerves. All his discoveries were, in his own phrase, "deductions from anatomy." In addition to his preeminence as an anatomist, physiologist, neurologist, and surgeon, Bell was also an accomplished artist. All the drawings for the illustrations in his books were made by him, and they stand unrivaled for their facility, elegance, and accuracy" (Eimas, Heirs of Hippocrates 1294). Charles Bell's publication list is extensive: Garrison-Morton-Norman mentions 10 of his works (though not the present work).
Bibliography & references: DSB I, pp. 583-4; Wellcome II, p. 136 (vol. I only); this work not in Garrison-Morton-Norman, Osler and Waller. - Visit our website to see more images!

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