Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1346

JOHN HENNEN (1779-1828) Principles of military surgery. John Wilson; and Adam Black, Edinburgh 1829 3rd ed. xxvi [2] 583 pp. 21.3 cm.

Hennen, born in Ireland's County Mayo, began his study of medicine under the tutelage of his physician father and in 1796 was sent to Edinburgh for formal medical studies. Two years later he received a diploma from the College of Surgeons and entered military service as an assistant surgeon. He spent his entire medical career in active military service serving in positions of increasing responsibility. At the time of his death from yellow fever he was serving as Brevet Inspector of Hospitals and was in charge of the medical department at Gibraltar. In this work, a comprehensive and popular treatise, Hennen includes a chapter on malingering in which he recounts in detail the many ruses employed by soldiers to avoid duty. Also included are chapters on the history and treatment of smallpox and syphilis. The work was first published at Edinburgh in 1818 as Observations on some important points in the practice of military surgery. This third and last edition is the first to contain a life of the author, written by his son, John (1800-1871).

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 2162 (1st ed., Edinburgh, 1818); Wellcome III, p. 246