Facets

1760

#4850.5

Observations on the nature and consequences of wounds and contusions of the head, fractures of the skull, concussions of the brain, etc.

This book, which showed Pott’s extensive knowledge of surgical literature, systematized the treatment of head injuries. It shows what a variety of injuries of the head could be sustained even before the advent of the …

1760

#7060

A discourse on the nature, causes, and cure of corpulency. Illustrated by a remarkable case, Read before the Royal Society, November 1757. And now first published.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1761

#2607.1

Cautions against the immoderate use of snuff. Founded on the known qualities of the tobacco Plant; and the effects it must produce when this way taken Into the body: And by instances of persons who have perished miserably of diseases, occasioned, or rendered incurable by its use,

First clinical report (pp. 30-31) of an association between tobacco and cancer, in this case “polypusses” of the nose caused by taking snuff. Hill was a distinguished botanist and apothecary, although regarded by some…

1766

#2527.99

De variolis et morbillis commentarius.

The first medical description of smallpox was written by Rhazes, about the year 910… The above work is the first edition of the Arabic text with a parallel Latin translation by the English pharmacist and scholar, John…

1768

#534.54

Operum anatomici argumenti minorum tomus tertius, De Monstris.

Reprints and updates Haller’s earlier essays on various malformations. This work marks the beginning of scientific teratology, placing it on a foundation of sound anatomical description.

1768

#4015.1

Observations on cancers.

First recorded description of multiple neurofibromatosis. Akenside was better known as a poet; he was caricatured as the republican doctor of Tobias Smollett's The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle.

1769

#3167

Observations on the asthma and on the hooping cough.

Includes Millar’s original description of laryngismus stridulus (“Millar’s asthma”).

1769

#3807

An account and method of cure of the bronchocele or Derby neck.

Prosser gave the prescription of a powder containing calcined sponge, to be taken for the cure of goitre. This is probably the first recorded use of an iodine preparation in England.

1774

#2608

Dissertatio academica de cancro.

Peyrilhe was the first to attempt an experimental study to determine the nature of cancer. He injected fluid from human mammary cancer into a dog; however, the dog howled and aggravated his housekeeper, who drowned it…

1775

#1117

Recherches sur les maladies chroniques. Vol. 1. Analyse médicinale du sang.

De Bordeu first conceived the idea of internal secretion by his hypothesis that every organ, tissue, and cell discharges into the blood products which influence other parts of the body. His work was published in a col…

1775

#2122

Chirurgical observations relative to the cataract, the polypus of the nose, the cancer of the scrotum, etc.

Includes the first description of occupational cancer. By describing chimney sweeps” cancer of the scrotum, Pott was the first to trace the origin of a type of cancer to a specific external cause. The above work also …

1776

#3982

Doctrina de morbis cutaneis.

A classification of skin diseases upon the basis of their clinical appearance. Until the time of Willan, von Plenck’s book was the greatest authority on dermatology. He mentioned 115 different skin diseases, all that …

1776

#3928

Experiments and observations on the urine in a diabetes.

Dobson proved that the sweetish taste of diabetic urine was produced by sugar, an observation following on Willis’s discovery of the sweetness of diabetic urine. He also discovered hyperglycemia.

1777

#3983

Tractatus de morbis cutaneis.

Lorry is regarded as the founder of French dermatology. A pupil of Jean Astruc, his most important work was his Tractatus, in which he attempted the classification of diseases on the basis of essential relations, thei…

1779

#3808

Cases and remarks in surgery: to which is subjoined an appendix containing the method of curing the bronchocele in Coventry.

The “Coventry treatment” for goitre, which introduced the burnt sponge remedy into England, is mentioned on pp. 249-54. Digital facsimile from the Hathitrust at this link.

1784

#2734.4

A treatise on the diseases of children.

Underwood laid the foundation of modern pediatrics. His work was superior to anything that had previously appeared and remained the most important book on the subject for sixty years, passing through many editions. Th…

1786

#4016

Aetiologie der Krätze.

Wichmann definitely established the parasitic aetiology of scabies.

1788

#3929

A singular case of diabetes, consisting entirely in the quality of the urine; with an inquiry into the different theories of that disease.

Cawley was the first to suggest a relationship between the pancreas and diabetes, observing that the disease may follow injury to that organ.

1789

#3809

Su i gozzi e sulla stupidità che in alcuni paesi gli accompagna tentativi

Hirsch considered this the first important work on cretinism and goitre. See also Malacarne’s Lettre, in J. P. Frank: Delectus opusculorum medicorum, 1789, 6, 241-58. Digital facsimile of Malacarne's pamphlet from Goo…

1791

#534.55

Abbildungen und Beschreibungen einiger Missgeburten.

Most of the plates demonstrate a progressive series of specimens with duplication anomalies of the face and head, from midfacial cleft to complete dicephalus. This arrangement of malformations into a continuous series…

1791

#3250

Observation sur un fongus du sinus maxillaire.

First successful operation on a tumor of the maxillary sinus, 1789.

1791

#4017

Observations on certain horny excrescences of the human body.

Original description of cornu cutaneum.

1792

#3810

Essai sur le goitre et le crétinage. Où l'on recherche particulièrement quelles son les causes de ces deux maladies des habitans des vallées, et quels sont les moyens physiques et moraux qu'il convient d'employer pour s'en préserver entièrement à l'avenir.

Fodéré considered cretinism to be due to the concentrated air in deep valleys, rather than to water. He also drew attention to the skeletal changes. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1792

#3984

Dermato-pathologia; or practical observations, from some new thoughts on the pathology and proximate cause of diseases of the true skin.

An attempt to classify skin diseases upon the basis of their pathology.

1792

#6358

Von Menschen ohne Haare und Zähne.

Hereditary ectodermal dysplasia first described. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1793

#11576

Storia di un monocolo con alcune riflessioni.

A rather elegantly produced and illustrated medical monograph on a cyclops, with plates printed in sepia. Engraved headpieces allude to monsters from classical mythology Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1794

#3879

De curandis hominum morbis epitome. Liber V.

Frank was the first to define diabetes insipidus (pp. 38-67).

1795

#2609.1

De morbis vasorum absorbentium corporis humani.

Soemmerring noted an association between pipe smoking and cancer of the lip (p. 109).

1796 –1808

#3985

On cutaneous diseases. Vol. 1 [All published].

Modern dermatology may be said to start with Willan. His classification of skin diseases gained him the Fothergillian Medal of the Medical Society of London in 1790. He established a standard nomenclature which is sti…

1797

#3930

An account of two cases of the diabetes mellitus: With remarks, as they arose during the progress of the cure. To which are added, a general view of the nature of the disease and its appropriate treatment, including observations on some diseases depending on stomach affection; and a detail of the communications received on the subject since the dispersion of the notes on the first case....And some observations on the nature of sugar by William Cruickshank. 2 vols.

Rollo reported the success of a meat diet in the treatment of diabetes. He was the first to take Matthew Dobson's discovery of glycosuria in diabetes mellitus and apply it to managing metabolism.[He was a pioneer in t…

1797

#11491

A practical inquiry into disordered respiration, distinguishing the species of convulsive asthma, their causes, and indications of cure,

Bree "embodied the numerous experiments in his own case, gave a more full and complete view of asthma and dyspnœa than had hitherto appeared, and laid down some important therapeutic rules, the practical value of whic…

1798

#2529.3

An inquiry into the causes and effects of the variolae vaccinae.

Jenner established the fact that a “vaccination” or inoculation with vaccinia (cowpox) lymph matter protects against smallpox. He performed his first vaccination on May 14, 1796. The above work, describing 23 successf…

1800 –1802

#5424

A prospect of exterminating the small-pox, being the history of the variolae vaccinae, or kine-pox, commonly called the cow-pox; as it has appeared in England: With an account of a series of inoculations performed for the kine-pox in Massachusetts. [Part II:] A prospect of exterminating the small pox part II, being a continuation of a narrative of facts concerning the progress of the new inoculation in America; together with practical observations on the local appearance, symptoms, and mode of treating the variola vaccina, or kine pock; including some letters to the author, from distinguished characters, on the subject of this benign remedy, now passing with a rapid step through all ranks of society in Europe and America.

Waterhouse introduced Jennerian vaccination into the U.S.A. He vaccinated his own child as his first case. See J. B. Blake, Benjamin Waterhouse and the introduction of vaccination. A reappraisal. Philadelphia, 1957. D…

1801

#1118

Le sang, est-il identique dans tous les vaisseaux qu’il parcourt?

Like de Bordeu, and more definitely, Legallois anticipated the conception of internal secretions. He surmised from the identity in composition of all varieties of arterial blood and the diversity of venous blood in di…

1801

#3880

Accroissement singulier en grosseur des os d’un homme âgé de 39 ans. In: Mélanges de chirurgie, 407-11.

Saucerotte described before the Académie de Chirurgie in 1772 a case of what is now known to have been acromegaly. This is the first known clinical description of the disease, and is one of the five cases included in …

1802

#3811

Sopra un tumor freddo nell’anterior parte del collo detto broncocele.

One of the earliest accounts of exophthalmic goitre. The author noted cardiac disturbances in thyroid enlargement.

1802

#5425

Practical observations on vaccination: or inoculation for the cow pock.

Coxe did much to destroy ignorant prejudice against vaccination; he was the first in Philadelphia to practice it. Like Waterhouse, he inoculated his own child as his first case.

1802

#7971

Ausführliche Beschreibung und Abbildung der beiden sogenannten Stachelschweinmenschen aus der bekannten engelischen Familie Lambert, oder, the porcupine man.

Tilesius continued the study of the Lambert family of sufferers from ichthyosis hystrix begun by Machin and Baker (see No. 4013). Notably Tilesius illustrated the bizarre condition with several color plates. In 2016 o…

1804

#13225

Surgical observations, containing a classification of tumours, with cases to illustrate the history of each species; - an account of diseases which strikingly resemble the venereal disease; - and various cases illustrative of different surgical subjects.

Abernethy published the first classification of tumors based on pathologic anatomy. "Abernethy is best known for his lectures and writings on surgery and for the first attempt at classification of tumors, some of whic…

1806

#1695

Analyse et tableaux de l’influence de la petite vérole sur la mortalité à chaque âge, et de celle qu’un préservatif tel que la vaccine peut avoir sur la population et la longevité.

Duvillard showed statistically the effect of smallpox vaccination on the mortality rate. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1806

#3986

Description des maladies de la peau observées à l’hôpital Saint Louis.

The largest and most spectacular of the early classics of dermatology, with hand-colored illustrations unsurpassed for their quality of execution. The illustrations are also the first on the subject in a French book. …

1807 –1808

#4020

On an eruptive disease of children.

First description of ecthyma terebrans, “pemphigus gangrenosa”.

1810 –1818

#3987

Précis théorique et pratique sur les maladies de la peau. 2 vols.

1811

#3055

Observations on the surgical anatomy of the head and neck.

Burns was the first to suggest (p. 31) ligature of the innominate artery. His book describes “Burns’s space”, the fascial space at the suprasternal notch. The first recorded case of chloroma (myeloid sarcoma, granuloc…

1812 –1816

#534.56

Handbuch der pathologischen Anatomie. 2 vols.

Meckel classified malformations systematically, on the basis of altered developmental mechanisms, basing his work on embryology. See No. 2284.

1813

#4021

A practical synopsis of cutaneous diseases according to the arrangement of Dr. Willan.

This was the most influential textbook of dermatology of the 19th century, and the work which conveyed Willan’s system to most of the medical world. Included in the book was material by Willan which remained unpublish…

1814

#4021.1

Practical treatise on porrigo, or scald head, and on impetigo, the humid or running teter

This treatise on infantile eczema is the only fascicule of the second volume of Willan’s On cutaneous diseases (No.4018) that ever appeared in print. It was edited for publication after Willan's death by his stepson-i…

1814

#12762

An essay on the venereal diseases which have been confounded with syphilis, and the symptoms which exclusively arise from that poison. Illustrated by drawings of the cutaneous eruptions of true syphilis, and the resembling diseases.

Carmichael "subdivided venereal infections into four major classes, each of which he maintained had a distinct exciting poison, a peculiar primary manifestation and a separate series of constitutional affections. From…

1815

#3931

Note sur le sucre de diabètes.

Chevreul proved that the sugar in diabetic urine is glucose.

1816

#4023

Note sur la keloide.

First accurate description of keloid (“Alibert’s keloid”), although it was mentioned by Retz in 1790.