Crucial Interventions - An Illustrated Treatise on the Principles and Practice of Nineteenth Century Surgery

Author(s): Richard Barnett

Medicine

The nineteenth century saw major advances in the practice of surgery. In 1750, the anatomist John Hunter described it as “a humiliating spectacle of the futility of science”; yet, over the next 150 years the feared, practical men of medicine benefited from a revolution in scientific progress and the increased availability of instructional textbooks. Anesthesia and antisepsis were introduced. Newly established medical schools improved surgeons’ understanding of the human body. For the first time, surgical techniques were refined, illustrated in color, and disseminated on the printed page.

Crucial Interventions follows this evolution, drawing from magnificent examples of rare surgical textbooks from the mid-nineteenth century. Graphic and sometimes unnerving yet beautifully rendered, these fascinating illustrations, acquired from the Wellcome Collection’s extensive archives, include step-by-step surgical techniques paired with depictions of medical instruments and depictions of operations in progress.

Arranged for the layman (from head to toe) Crucial Interventions is a captivating look at the early history of one of the world’s most mysterious and macabre professions.





Review: 'An extraordinary array of illustrations ... A book that will appeal to all lovers of medical history ' - British Journal of Hospital Medicine


Contents: Surgery: An Introduction * Head & Neck: 1. Head; 2 . Eyes; 3. Ear, Nose & Throat * The Upper Body: 4. Hands & Arms; 5. Chest; 6. Abdomen * The Lower Body: 7. Genitals; 8. Legs & Feet


Author Biography: Richard Barnett studied medicine before becoming a historian. His writing has appeared in The Lancet, The London Magazine and The Natural Death Handbook. His first book, Medical London: City of Diseases, City of Cures, was published in 2008 and was a Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4. His second book, The Sick Rose, published by Thames & Hudson, was the winner of The British Book Design and Production Awards. Richard has also appeared on BBC4's 'The Beauty of Anatomy'. He is currently Director of studies in History, Pembroke-King's Programme, University of Cambridge and Honorary Research Fellow, UCL.


 

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Product Information

General Fields

  • : 9780500518106
  • : Thames & Hudson, Limited
  • : Thames & Hudson Ltd
  • : 0.94574
  • : June 2015
  • : 24.90 cmmm X 17.80 cmmm X 3.00 cmmm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Richard Barnett
  • : Hardback
  • : 1
  • : en
  • : 617
  • : 256
  • : 350 colour illustrations