Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1507

ROBERT LISTON (1794-1847) Elements of surgery. Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman ... and Adam Black, Edinburgh [1831-1832] Vol. I: xv [1] 318 pp.; Vol. II: [v]-vii [1] 334 pp.; Vol. III: [v]-viii, 409 pp. 21.5 cm.

Although Liston was the first to use an anesthetic for operative purposes in Europe, he did not do so until 1846, which was very near the end of his noteworthy career. His great reputation as a surgeon was gained through his intimate knowledge of anatomy and the dexterity, speed, and physical strength he displayed in the operating room. Although he was an aggressive operator and willingly attempted difficult cases, he was highly successful and believed in relying as much as possible on the body's natural recuperative powers rather than tending toward over-treatment as was often done in his time. Liston wrote useful and informative papers on amputations as well as difficult cases of aneurysm, tracheotomy, lithotomy, and lithotrity. The present work was prepared chiefly for students and was compiled from lectures Liston presented in Edinburgh.

Cited references: Wellcome III, p. 530

Gift of John Martin, M.D.