The works of Desault deservedly stand very high in reputation. He was the first in Paris who taught surgical anatomy and gave clinical lectures on surgery, one of the most important modes of instruction. He was not less profound as an ana tomist than a surgeon, and infused an ardent zeal for both sciences into his pupils, among whom were Dubois, Boyer, and Bichat, who have equalled their preceptor in reputation. He invented several ingenious apparatus for fractures, some of which retain his name, and modified the common am putating knife, converting it from the ancient curved shape to a straight one; he also improved Hawkin's gorgct. He renewed- the use of the im mediate ligature on arteries, which had again fallen into disuse after the demise of Pare, and has the merit of proposing that scientific mode of securing arteries beyond or distant to the aneurismal tu mour, in cases where the reverse is impracticable, an operation now perfectly established by the suc cess of Mr. '\Vardrop and others. He is stated to have been a scientific and dexterous operator, and was the first who attempted to cure an artificial anus formed after strangulated hernia; and also the first who treated scientifically schirrous tubercles of the rectum. In France he is as much es teemed as an authority as John Hunter is in England.
In Italy there were Bertrandi, Moll inella and Moscati.
In Germany 'and the north of Europe, there were F. Hoffman, Heister, Platner, Bidloo, Bilguer, Cal lisen, Richter, Ruysch, Trew, Heckel primus, Schneider, Schmucker, and Haller.
Heister wrote an able system of surgery, which is deservedly quoted at the present day ; it is a work of extensive practical experience. He appears to have been an able anatomist, a sound pathologist, and a bold operator. Callisen's Systema Chirurgix Hodiernx is an excellent compilation of the day, written by a vigorous mind.
Richter's Medical and Surgical observations are deservedly valued.
Schmuckcr ranks high as a military surgeon ; many of his observations on injuries of the head are quoted by his successors. He published an excel lent work in 1774, termed " Chirurgisch Wahrneh mungen," and another entitled " Vermischte, Chi rurgisch," Schriften in 1785.
Haller's Disputationes Chirurgieze, like the other works of this great man, are extensive and elabo rate dissertations on surgery.
Great Britain, during this century, produced Chesselden, Douglas, Monro, primus et secundus, Sharp, Cowper, Pott, Allanson, John Hunter, Hill, \Varner, Ford, White, Broomfield, Hanby, Gooch, Park, O'Halloran, Dease, Latta, Benjamin Bell, John Bell, and a number of others.
Chesselden's great celebrity consisted in per forming the lateral operation of lithotorny so scien tifically, that he is said seldom to have exceeded 24 seconds in its performance, he was the greatest ope rator of his day, and a most profound anatomist. He published a work on the anatomy of the human body in 1713, in which several of the operations of surgery are described, and in 1733 some splendid plates on the healthy and diseased structure of the bones ; also a treatise on the high operation for the stone, in 1723.
Monro primus has contributed largely to the pa thology of surgery, as, for example, that of luxa tion of the inferior maxillary bone, of fistula paro tidea, of aneurism, of the lacrymal canals, of cata ract, of the knee-joint, of caries, of cancer of the mamma, and of the ovarium. He improved the
operations of paracentecis abdominis, and amputa tion.
Monro secundus was a man of great learning, a profound anatomist, physiologist, pathologist, and a most scientific consulting physician and surgeon.
Sharp wrote an excellent treatise on the opera tions of surgery. Gooch's cases and practical re marks on surgery, and his practical treatise on wounds and other chirurgical subjects are extremely valuable.
Pott's chirurgical works continue the standard of reference, although the doctrine of injuries of the head, hernia, and hydrocele have undergone some modification and improvement since his time.
John Hunter's works continue the admiration and boast of English surgeons. His treatise on the ve nereal disease, pathological doctrines of the blood, union by the first intention, inflammation and gun shot wounds, are creations of a- great and inven tive mind.
John Bell's principles of surgery is a work of great merit ; his observations on aneurism, espe cially that by anastomosis, are valuable ; he has proved more than the great Haller, that the largest arteries of the human body may be freely secured, without any fear of the collateral circulation not being carried on. It is much to be regretted, that he has written in so diffuse a style, and in so elabo rate a manner, as to render the work too volumi nous for general reading ; again, the style and man ner are so peculiarly his own as not to admit of be ing curtailed. He was a good anatomist, an ele gant scholar, and a dexterous operator. He has written on the healthy structure of the bones, liga ments, muscles, heart and arteries ; and his work on gunshot wounds is highly prized by the profes sion. His lectures on anatomy were probably the most eloquent ever delivered in Edinburgh.
We shall now conclude this brief historical sketch, as it will be better to advert to living au thors, in the accounts of the different surgical sub jects concerning which they have written. We have to refer the reader who wishes further information on this interesting subject to the able article Medi cine, in a preceding part of this work ; also to the following treatises,—Melbomius ; Ilippocratis jus jurandum commentaries illustratum, 1643 ; Le Clerc histoire de la Medicine, 1702 ; Friend's his tory of Physic, 1725 ; Histoire de la Chirurgie par Peyrild e, H. Boerhavii Methodus discendi artem medicam; Ilalleri Boerhavii Methodus discendi ar tern medicam ; Haller Bibliotheca Chirurgica,17744 Keisneri Bibliotheca medica ; Recherches histo riques, et critiques sur l'origine, les divers etats et les progres de la chirurgie en France, par Ques nay. Gesner de chirurgia scriptores optimos veterum et recentiorum. Black's historical sketch of Medicine and Surgery, 1782 ; Gooch's practi cal treatise on wounds and other chirurgical sub jects, together with a short historical account of the rise and progress of surgery and anatomy, 1767 ; Portal, histoire de l'anatomie et de la chirurgie, 1770 ; Richerand Nosographie chirurgicale ; Pro legomenes histoire abregee de la chirurgie ; also, Histoire des progr(ls recens de la chirurgie ; Spren gel histoire de la Medicine, 1815.