Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 309

KONRAD GESNER (1516-1565) Chirurgia. Per Andream Gessnerum f. et Jacobum Gessnerum fratres 1555 [10] 408 [2] [20] ll., illus. 32.8 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 307

Edited and compiled by Gesner, this extensive collection of surgical works also contains a brief tract by him on the historical importance of surgery as well as a list of notable surgeons and their works from the time of Hippocrates. Nearly a third of the work is devoted to the six books of Tagault’s surgery (see No. 190). The sixth book, De material chirurgica, was written by Houllier (see No. 254). In addition to Compendium chirurgiae, several other surgical tracts by Santo (see No. 154) have been included by Gesner. Santo’s important tract on lithotomy is included, in which he describes his famous technique for the operation employing a lateral incision. Bolognini (see No. 128) was professor of surgery at Bologna where he achieved a great reputation for his achievements in anatomy and surgery. In De cura ulcerum exteriorum he describes the causes and means of curing a wide variety of external sores and ulcers. In De unguentis he discusses the merits, uses, and preparation of a large number of different kinds of salves and ointments. Biondo, a native of Venice, studied medicine at Naples and maintained a flourishing practice in Rome. In De partibus ictu sectis citissime sanandis, et medicamento aquae nuper inuento he explains how warm water may be employed in treating wounds; he was the first to disagree with Galen’s notion that warm water was harmful to wounds. De origine morbi Gallici deque ligni Indici ancipite proprietate is his brief tract on the history of syphilis and its treatment with guaiacum. Maggi was professor of anatomy and surgery at Bologna and the personal physician of Pope Julius II. Maggi strongly supported Pare’s opposition to the use of hot oil and cautery for treating gunshot wounds and performed a number of experiments to support his ideas. His major work, included here by Gesner, was first published in 1522 and went through a number of editions. In the work, he expresses his views and theories of wound management, includes recommendations and recipes for salves and ointments, and depicts in a series of six plates, the major instruments used in treatment of gunshot wounds. Gesner selected two of Ferri’s (see No. 303) several medical works for his Chirurgia. In his treatise on gunshot wounds, he espouses ideas of wound management that are counter to those of Pare and Maggi. He observed that balls might remain in the body for long periods of time with little or no adverse effects and also recommended ligation in cases of excessive hemorrhage. Ferri developed his own ball extractor and it is depicted in the text, along with instructions for its use. The second work, De carnuncula, is a brief work dealing with strictures and blockages of the urethra. Among the causes noted by Ferri are veneral diseases, especially syphilis. Lange, a native of Silesia, studied at Leipzig where he received a master’s degree in 1514. He studied medicine at Ferrara under Leoniceno (see No. 128), in Bologna under Berengario da Carpi (see No. 160 ff.), and received his medical degree at Pisa in 1522. He returned to his native country following his medical education and served as physician to four Electors for some forty years. He is perhaps best known for his Medicinalium epistolarum miscellanea (Basel, 1554) in which he spoke out against uroscopy in favor of diagnosis based on the patient’s symptoms. In the present book, he includes eleven of his brief essays. Several aspects of wound infections, treatment, and management are covered as well as essays on bloodletting, erysipelas, and enemas. Gesner has also included Galen’s De fasciis and Oribasius’ De laqueis and De machinamentis from Guidi’s Chirurgia (see No. 263). All three of these works are profusely illustrated with many wood blocks. Jacopo Dondi Dall’ Orologio was the first in several generations of a family noted for their contributions to astronomy, physics, mathematics, and medicine. Historians are uncertain about many details regarding the family’s life and works. However, Jacopo appears to have practiced in Chioggia, Venice, and a number of smaller Italian towns during his career. He was the author of several books and the present work is a list of what he considers to be the best of the ancient remedies for a wide variety of medical conditions. He quotes from twenty-seven authors and arranges the remedies alphabetically under the disease condition.

See Related Record(s): 190 254 154 128 303 160 263

Cited references: Cushing G209; Durling 960; Garrison-Morton 5562; Osler 643; Waller 1959; Wellcome 1460

Gift of John Martin, M.D.