SURGICAL OBSERVATIONS

1811. ABERNETHY, John. SURGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORIGIN AND TREATMENT OF LOCAL DISEASES; AND ON ANEURISMS. ON DISEASES RESEMBLING SYPHILIS; AND ON DISEASES OF THE URETHRA. Philadelphia: Printed for Thomas Dobson; Fry and Kammerer, Printer, 1811. Offered with: SURGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE INJURIES OF THE HEAD; AND ON MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS. Philadelphia: Printed for Thomas Dobson; Fry and Kammerer, Printer, 1811. First American edition of each, originally published at London in 1809 and 1810 respectively. Two octavo volumes. Uniformly bound in contemporary full calf, with a red morocco label and gilt number at spines. Text leaves of Vol. 1 are age-browned, with some foxing and a few dog-eared corners; the half-title and title-page each have a small puncture. Vol. 2 has an "Explanation of the Plate" at p. 105; however, there is no plate (nor any sign of one). Otherwise, it is quite clean with negligible scattered foxing. The bindings are moderately soiled, stained and rubbed overall. Vol. 1 has bit of worming at heel, the upper joint is just starting, and a quarter-size patch of leather is missing from the upper board. It is unusual to see both volumes together. Very good overall. (Shaw & Shoemaker 22138). Garrison & Morton, nos. 2928 and 5584, regarding the London Lonngman edition of 1809: A pupil of John Hunter, Abernethy (1764-1831) became a leading surgeon in London. He was most industrious and it is said that not even on his wedding day did he fail to give his usual daily lecture at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. D'Arcy Power found his book Surgical Observations on the Constitutional Origin and Treatment of Local Diseases; and on Aneurisms to be epoch-making; it contains a record of the first successful ligation of of the external iliac artery for aneurysm, an operation carried out by Abernathy in 1796.