BY
ROBERT LISTON,
SURGEON TO THE NORTH-LONDON HOSPITAL, PROFESSOR Of CLINICAL SURGERY,
ETC., ETC., ETC.
FROM THE SECOND LONDON EDITION,
WITH
COPIOUS NOTES AND ADDITIONS,
BY
SAMUEL D. GROSS, M.D.,
PROFESSOR OF SURGERY IN THE LOUISVILLE MEDICAL INSTITUTE, SURGEON
TO THE LOUISVILLE MARINE HOSPITAL, ETC., ETC.
Illustrated
WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.
Philadelphia:
ED. BARRINGTON & GEO. D. HASWELL.
NEW YORK—J. & H.G. LANGLEY: CHARLESTON, S. C.—WM. H. BERRETT:
RICHMOND, VA.—SMITH, DRINKER & MORRIS:
LOUISVILLE, KY.—JAMES MAXWELL, JR.
1842.
[Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by BARRINGTON& HASWELL, in the Clerk’s office of the District Court for the EasternDistrict of Pennsylvania.]
TO
WILLARD PARKER, M. D.,
Professor of Surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons
in the City of New York,
THIS EDITION OF MR. LISTON’S WORK
Is Inscribed,
AS A TESTIMONIAL OF RESPECT
FOR HIS UNTIRING ZEAL IN SURGICAL PURSUITS,
AND OF ESTEEM FOR HIS PRIVATE VIRTUES,
BY HIS FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE,
THE EDITOR.
The character of Mr. Liston’s work is too well established to render itnecessary for me to say anything in commendation of it. As an outlineof surgical science, which is all that can be claimed for it, it isunrivalled in the English language. Written in a bold and graphicstyle, the distinguished author never hesitates to express his opinion,frankly and fearlessly, of what his judgment and experience have ledhim to disapprove. In this, as well as in some other particulars, hereminds one forcibly of that great and eccentric surgeon, John Bell.There is no cringing to this man or that, no doubtful or equivocalsentiment, no attempt to theorise or speculate; on the contrary, hecomes right out, and clearly tells us what he means. His work, fullof vigour and freshness, contains more originality than any othersimilar publication that has been issued for a long time from theBritish press. The hand of a master is discernible in every page; and,notwithstanding an occasional incongruity, or outré expression, it isimpossible to read it without feeling that it is the production of agreat mind, thoroughly acquainted with the subject on which he treats.
Such a work is invaluable to the student; for, independently ofimparting sound surgical knowledge, it does more to form his judgment,and to qualify him for the practical duties of his profession than allthe compilations in Christendom. Velpeau, with all his learning and allhis patience, has never furnished anything equal to it. His "MedicineOperatoire" is nothing but a vast storehouse of research, to whichpompous doctors may resort for ancient lore, and prosing teachers formaterials for instruction. It details with endless minuteness theoperative methods of every surgeon, great or little, from the age ofHippocrates to the present period, with their various modificationsand improvements, not forgetting the "appreciations" and labours ofthe able professor himself. Such productions are well enough in theirway; they serve to give us an idea of the rise and progress of surgery,and form good books of reference. Beyond this, however, they are ofcomparatively little utility; the great mass of the profession i