WISEMAN, Richard.

London: Printed by E. Flesher and J. Macock, for R. Royston…and B. Took… .1676

Small folio, 8 leaves, pp. 498, 79, 7 leaves. Half-title/imprimatur leaf before the title, title within ruled border. Paper slightly browned throughout in the margins, ink stain in lower corner of p3 and other small stains and light soiling, hole in blank lower corner of last leaf repaired, numerous pencilled marks in the margins. Contemporary panelled calf, rebacked and corners repaired, surface of sides crazed and some score-marks on the lower cover. Bookplates of A. Russell Pollock and Alberti G. Nicholls on front pastedown.

FIRST EDITION. G&M 5573. An important collection of eight surgical treatises by the leading English surgeon of the period, including subjects such as gunshot wounds, tumours, and proctology. “The Severall Chirurgical Treatises of…Richard Wiseman is the leading work of a man who played the same part in the English surgery of his day that Sydenham did in the practice of medicine. Wiseman was a skilful operator, amputated above the diseased part, employed primary amputation in gunshot wounds of joints, and was the first to describe tuberculosis of the joints and ‘tumor albus’. He also gave the authentic account of ‘King’s evil’ [pp. 245–335]. In his treatise on gonorrhoea [pp. 1–79] he mentions the first case of external urethrotomy for stricture, which he performed with Edward Molins in 1652” (Garrison, p. 276). “His Severall Chirurgical Treatises (1676) earned for him the reputation of being the father of modern British surgery… Wiseman was almost two hundred years ahead of his fellow military surgeons in advising immediate amputation in certain cases” (Leonardo, History of surgery). Wing W3107. Norman catalogue 2253. See Zimmerman & Veith pp. 288–295.

Unsure of some of these terms? Click here to download a copy of Carter & Barker, ABC for Book Collectors (2006), which has full explanations.