Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1043

AUGUST GOTTLIEB RICHTER (1742-1812) Abhandlung von den Bruechen. Bey Johann Christian Dieterich 1778-1779 Vol. I: [16] 463 [1] pp., 4 fold. plates; Vol. II: [4] 234 pp., 2 fold. plates. 17 cm.

Many authorities consider Richter to be the greatest German surgeon between the time of Heister, in the early eighteenth century, and Billroth in the nineteenth century. He was professor at Göttingen for many years, edited Chirurgische Bibliothek for over twenty years, and was interested in unifying surgery and medicine. This work on hernia is still considered a classic contribution because of its comprehensiveness, clear description of symptoms, and practical directions. In it Richter describes, for the first time, the hernia that has long borne his name. A femoral hernia is usually a piece of omentum which plugs the femoral ring, and it may or may not be reducible. The hernial sac may contain a coil of intestine as well, and if a part of the convex portion of a loop of intestine is nipped within the small space of the hernial ring, the condition is then called Richter's hernia. Such a portion of the bowel may become compressed or strangulated and gangrene will result. Six folding plates show surgical instruments used in hernia repair and compressive devices to be applied to hernial sites.

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 3578; Waller 7960 (1785 ed.)

Gift of John Martin, M.D.