Title: La Grande Chirurgie, 1672. A Rare, Early Edition of One of the Most Important Reference Manuals of Practical Medicine and Surgery in Medieval Europe. Anatomy, Anesthetics, Wounds, Antidotes, and Much More
Author: Guy de Chauliac
Publisher: Bourdeaux, Jacq. Mongiron Millanges, Pierre Du Cocq, Simon Boé
Condition: Very Good
An extremely scarce, late 17th century edition of de Chauliac La Grande Chirurgie, also first known as the Chirurgia magna, a guide to surgery and practical medicine completed in 1363. Physician to Pope Clement VI, de Chauliac compiled the information from his own field experience and research of historical medical texts, the work becoming one of the most important reference manuals of practical medicine for the next three centuries.
In seven volumes, the treatise covers anatomy, bloodletting, cauterization, drugs, anesthetics, wounds, fractures, ulcers, special diseases, and antidotes. Among de Chaulic's treatments he described the use of oakum, bandages medicated with egg-whites, rubbing the scrotum, and performing bloodletting to cure a nosebleed. He describes surgical techniques such as intubation, tracheotomy, and suturing, as well as describing the use of anaesthetic gas when performing amputations on patients.
With influences from prior physicians, anatomists, and medical works, de Chauliac claims that surgery began with Hippocrates and Galen, and was developed in the Arab world by Haly Abbas, Albucasis, and Al-Razi. Through his position as papal physician, Chauliac had access to Galen's texts, recently translated by Niccolò da Reggio from original Greek versions, which were more accurate than the Latin translations.
Worldcat records nine existing copies of this edition in libraries. Curiously, the seventh and last book has been bound in first.
The title page is lacking.
One volume in (40)+175+460 [Actually 462]+760 pages
This volume is in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding, and light splitting to the upper and lower hinges. Several pages have tiny tears, with minor text loss. There is some foxing and soiling throughout.