Facets

1954 CE

#11916

First pharmacopeia in man's recorded history.

The most ancient testimony concerning the opium poppy found to date was inscribed in cuneiform script on a small white clay tablet at the end of the third millennium BC. This tablet was discovered in 1954 during excav…

1745 CE

#2094

An essay on the West-India dry-gripes… to which is added, an extraordinary case in physick.

Cadwalader, an American pupil of Cheselden, left a classical account of lead colic and lead palsy. This was later shown by Benjamin Franklin, printer of the above work, to be due to the consumption of Jamaica rum whic…

1856 CE

#2079

Analyse physiologique des propriétés des systèmes musculaires et nerveux au moyen de curare.

Bernard paralysed motor nerve-endings with curare and demonstrated the independent excitability of muscle. He showed that curare acted by stopping the transmission of impulses from motor nerves to voluntary muscles.

1471 CE

#1789

Antidotarium. Add: Quid pro quo; Synonyma.

This work, which first circulated in manuscript in 1140, was the first formulary to be printed. It consists of 139 prescriptions and includes the original formula for the “anesthetic sponge” (spongia somni…

1626 CE

#12781

Barbiere di Tiberio Malfi da Monte Sarchio Barbiere, e consule dell’arte in Napoli Libri Tre. Ne qualisi ragiona dell’eccellenza dell’Arte, e de’ suoi precetti. Delle Vene, e regole d’aprirle.

Published when barbers saw their work increasingly competed with by professional surgeons, Malfi’s book stresses medical knowledge of barbers and their expertise in performing medical procedures. It is Illustrat…

1976 CE

#1931.71

Biological effects of cyclosporin A: a new antilymphocytic agent.

The immunosuppressive cyclosporin A, instrumental in the success of organ transplants. With C. Feurer, H.U. Gubler & H. Strähelin.

1989 CE

#11378

Botulinum toxin: a treatment for facial asymmetry caused by facial nerve paralysis.

First documentation of a cosmetic use for botulinum toxin (Botox). This was one of the early documented applications of a biological medical product.

1498 CE

#12925

Chirurgia. Add: Brunus Longoburgensis: Chirurgia magna et minor; Bonaventura de Castello: Recepta aquae balnei de Porrecta; Theodoricus Cerviensis: Chirurgia; Rolandus: Libellus de chirurgia; Lanfrancus Mediolanensis: Chirurgia; Rogerius: Practica; Leonardus Bertapalia: Recollectae super quarto libro Avicennae.

This late 15th century edition of the surgery of Guy de Chauliac also contained the first printed editions of various lesser-known medieval surgeries such as those by Bruno da Longoburgo and Leonardo Bertapaglia. It a…

1947 CE

#2090

Curare, its history, nature, and clinical use.

1935 CE

#5719

Curare.

Isolation from curare of d-tubocurarine chloride.

1679 CE

#4436

Currus triumphalis, è terebinthô. Or an account of the many admirable vertues of oleum terebinthinae. More particularly, of the good effects produced by its application to recent wounds, especially with respect to the hemorrhagies of the veins, and arteries, and the no less pernicious weepings of the nerves, and lymphaducts. Where also, the common methods, and medicaments, used to restrain hemorrhagies, are examined, and divers of them censured. And lastly, A new way of amputation, and a speedier convenient method of curing stumps, than that commonly practised, is with divers other useful matters recommended to the military surgeon.…

Describes how Yonge used turpentine to arrest hemorrhage, and presents the first account of a flap amputation. It also shows that Yonge was familiar with tourniquets. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1805 CE

#1839

Darstellung der reinen Mohnsäure (Opiumsäure); nebst einer chemischen Untersuchung des Opiums, mit vorzüglicher Hinsicht auf einen darin neu entdeckten Stoff.

Isolation of morphine from opium. This was the first isolation of an active ingredient from a plant.

1860 CE

#1864

Du coaltar saponiné, désinfectant énergique, arrètant les fermentations, de ses applications a l'hygiène, la thérapeutique, a l'histoire naturelle.

Lemaire was first to point out the antiseptic properties of carbolic acid. Digital facsimile from BnF Gallica at this link.

1945 CE

#1929.1

Effectiveness of a nitrofuran in the treatment of infected wounds.

First clinical use of “furacin” (nitrofuran). With C. L. Kiehn and J. W. Christopherson.

1917 CE

#1905

Flavine and brilliant green, powerful antiseptics with low toxicity to the tissues: their use in the treatment of infected wounds.

Introduction of acriflavine. With R. Gulbransen, E. L. Kennaway, and L. H. D. Thomton.

2008 CE

#10362

Flesh and blood: Organ transplantation and blood transfusion in twentieth-century America.

1909 CE

#5628

Hemorrhage and transfusion.

1965 CE

#2068.8

Histoire du curare. Les poisons de chasse en Amérique du Sud.

1561 CE

#1814

In hoc volumine continentur Valerii Cordi ... Annotationes in Pedacii Dioscoridis Anazarbei De medica materia libros V : longè aliae quàm ante hac sunt evulgatae. Ejusdem Val. Cordi Historiae stirpium Lib. IIII. posthumi, nunc primùm in lucem editi, adjectis etiam stirpium iconibus, & brevissimus annotatiunculis. Sylva, qua rerum fossilium in Germania plurimarum, metallorum, lapidum & stirpium aliquot rariorum notitiam brevissimè persequitur, nunquam hactenus visa. De artificiosis extractionibus liber. Compositiones medicinales aliquot, non vulgares. His accedunt Stocc-Hornii et Nessi in Bernatium Helvetiorum ditione montium, & nascentium in eis stirpium, descriptio Benedicti Aretii ... Item Conradi Gesneri De hortus Germaniae, liber recens, unà cum descriptione tulipae turcarum, chamaecerasi montani, chamaemespili, chamaenerii, & conozoidis ... Omnia summa studio atque industria ... Conr. Gesneri ... collecta, & praefationibus illustrata.

This work not only updated the species listed by Dioscorides, but also listed about 500 new species of plants. Published posthumously, the work was carefully edited by Conrad Gesner. Cordus was the inventor of phytogr…

1528 CE

#36

In principio singulorum librorum omnia indicantur, quae in eo libro continentur. [Title in Greek and Latin].

Paul of Aegiina was the most famous physician and surgeon in the Byzantine Empire during the seventh century, and probably thereafter. According to Eugene F. Rice, "Paulus Aegineta", Catalogus translationum et comment…

1929 CE

#5712

Induction of anesthesia in man by intravenous injection of sodium isoamyl-ethyl barbiturate.

Sodium amytal (Amobarbitol). With J. T. C. McCallum, H. A. Shonle, E. E. Swanson, J. B. Scott, and G. H. A. Clowes.

1995 CE

#7211

Kinetic jottings: Rare and curious books in the library of the old Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics. An illustrated and annotated catalogue.

Outstanding descriptions and superb illustrations of a very unusual collection of books, including those on fencing, gymnastics, orthopedics, physical medicine, acrobatics, and dance.

1896 CE

#9905

Les asphyxies par les gaz, les vapeurs et les anesthésiques.

1490 CE

#47

Liber Teisir, sive rectificatio medicationis et regiminis. Antidotarium. Translated from Arabic into Hebrew by Jacobus Hebraeus; into Latin by Paravicius. Add: Averroes: Colliget.

This is a Latin translation from a Hebrew version dating from 1280. Avenzoar, the greatest Muslim physician of the Western Caliphate, described the itch-mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, serous pericarditis, mediastinal absces…

1812 CE–1817 CE

#2160

Mémoires de chirurgie militaire, et campagnes. (Vol. 5 entitled Relation médicale de campagnes et voyages.) 5 vols.

Larrey was the greatest military surgeon in history. Of him Napoleon said: “C’est l’homme le plus vertueux que j’ai connu”. He was present at all Napoleon’s great battles and one of…

1988 CE

#8268

Moses Maimonides medical writings: Poisons, Hemorrhoids, and cohabitation, translated and annotated by Fred Rosner.

1845 CE

#1968

Neuralgia - introduction of fluid to the nerve.

Rynd, an Irish physician, invented the hollow needle used in hypodermic syringes. The description of his instrument is given in Dublin Quart. J. med. Sci., 1861, 32, 13.

1855 CE

#1969

New method of treating neuralgia by the direct application of opiates to the painful joints.

Wood of Edinburgh was the first (1853) to employ hypodermic injection that used a true syringe and hollow needle as a therapeutic procedure. He referred to his invention as "subcutaneous" rather than hypodermic. See a…

1832 CE

#1853

Nouvelles observations sur les principaux produits de l’opium.

Isolation of codeine.

1632 CE

#12780

Nuoua, et vtilissima prattica di tutto quello ch'al diligète barbiero s'appartiene: E particolarmente del cauar sangue ....

An extensively llustrated manual published specifically for barber surgeons, published in the vernacular, and instructing them in the art of bloodletting and phlebotomy, embalming dead bodies, curing headaches, and va…

1851 CE–1876 CE

#31

Oeuvres d’Oribase, texte grec, en grande partie inédit…traduit pour la première fois en français; par les Drs. Bussemaker et Daremberg. 6 vols.

Oribasius was a compiler of existing knowledge rather than an original writer. His output was immense; he compiled the Synagoge, an encyclopedic digest of medicine, hygiene, therapeutics, and surgery from Hippocrates …

1867 CE

#1996.3

On the electrolytic treatment of tumors, and other surgical diseases.

Althaus introduced Duchenne’s methods into England. He was the first to employ electrolysis for medical purposes. Greatly expanded third edition, 1873.

1932 CE

#10784

On the specific antibacterial properties of penicillin and potassium tellurite. Incorporating a method of demonstrating some bacterial antagonisms.

In this paper Fleming first described the use of penicillin as an antibacterial agent in man, and reported on experiments using it as a wound dressing for septic wounds. He also corrected the species name from Penicil…

1915 CE

#1903.2

On the use of certain antiseptic substances in the treatment of infected wounds.

Eusol and chloramine-T. “Dakin’s solution” was employed by Carrel (No. 5642) in the Carrel–Dakin method of irrigation of wounds.

1944 CE

#12599

Penicillin content of blood serum after various doses of penicillin by various routes.

In this paper Fleming and colleagues explained how to choose routes of administration of penicillin as well as dosage, and reproduced the graphs/figures that showed blood levels achieved with different doses and route…

1905 CE

#1894

Physiological and pharmacological studies of magnesium salts.

A study of the anesthetic and other effects of magnesium salts.

1947 CE

#1939

Procaine penicillin G (duracillin); a new salt of penicillin which prolongs the action of penicillin.

Procaine benzylpenicillin also known as penicillin G procaine was developed by Herrell and colleagues. With D.R. Nichols.

1868 CE

#1868

Recherches chimiques et physiologiques sur l’erythroxylum coca du Pérou et la cocaïne.

The author, formerly a surgeon in the Peruvian army, issued the first study of the pharmacological action of cocaine, containing the earliest suggestion of its use as a local anesthetic. Leclerc issued the commercial …

1567 CE

#9053

Secretos de chirurgia, en especial de la enfermedades de morbo-galico y lamparones, y asimismo la manera como se curan los indos las llgas y heridas, y otras pasiones en las Indias, muy útil y provechoso par España, y otros muchos secretos de chirugia hasta ahora no escritos.

Arias de Benevides travelled to the New World where he observed native remedies and reported them in this book. In the book he also described his performance in Mexico City (1561) of the first neurosurgical interventi…

1578 CE

#8023

Summa y recopilacion de cirugia, con un arte para sangrar, muy util y provechosa.

Second edition, Mexico, 1595: Summa y recopilacion de cirugia, con un arte para sangrar, y examen de barberos ... va añadido en esta segunda impresion el origen ... de las reumas. López de Hinojos…

1924 CE

#86.3

Surgical papers.[Edited by Walter C. Burket]. 2 vols.

In spite of an addiction to cocaine hydrochlorate from experimentation with it as a surgical anesthetic in 1884 until his death, Halsted was among the greatest of all surgical innovators and teachers. While pioneering…

1844 CE–1850 CE

#11

Suśrutas. Áyruvédas. Id est medicinae systema a venerabili d'hanvantare demonstratum a Suśruta discipulo compositum. Nunc primum ex Sanksríta in Latinum sermonem vertit, introductionem, annotationes et rerum indicem adjecit Dr. Franciscus Hessler. 3 vols.

First translation of the Suśruta Samhitā into Latin, and the first publication of this text in the West. Suśruta is said to have lived in the 6th or 5th centuries, BCE. The principal medical contribution of the ancien…

1874 CE

#7848

The nature of gunshot wounds of the abdomen, and their treatment: Based on a review of the case of the late James Fisk, Jr., in its medico-legal aspects.

Peugnet argued that over-medication, and not the pistol shot, caused Fisk's death. Peugnet, a surgeon who had served in the American Civil War, died at the early age of 43, having been struck by a locomotive while abs…

2001 CE

#10895

The pursuit of oblivion: A global history of narcotics.

1844 CE–1847 CE

#8306

The seven books of Paulus Aegineta: Translated from the Greek, with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery by Francis Adams. 3 vols.

Book VI is entirely devoted to operative surgery. Adams himself says that it “contains the most complete system of operative surgery which has come down to us from ancient times”. Book IV contains much inf…

1931 CE

#4399

The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with the maggot (larva of the blow fly).

Larrey observed the therapeutic effect of maggots on wounds; W. S. Baer inaugurated the method of treating osteomyelitis by this means (“Baer therapy”).

1579 CE

#1819.1

Tractado breve de anathomia y chirurgia.

Includes some of the first studies of the plants and botanic remedies of the New World. Second edition, Tractado breve de medicina (1592). This is an abridgement of manuscripts left in Mexico by Francisco Herná…

1884 CE

#1880.1

Ueber coca.

Freud described his observations (with himself as subject) on the effects of cocaine, including its abolition of hunger and fatigue, the “exhilaration and lasting euphoria”. He also described its supposed …

1880 CE

#1871

Ueber die physiologische Wirking des Cocaïn.

Anrep studied the action of cocaine and, like Moréno y Maïz, suggested that it might be used as a local anesthetic.

1860 CE

#1865

Ueber eine neue organische Base in den Cocablättern.

Isolation of cocaine, 1859, from the coca leaf, brought from Peru by Scherzer.