Epoch-making books in British surgery. III, A proved practise for all young chirurgians by William Clowes maister in chirurgerie / by Sir D'Arcy Power, K.B.E., F.S.A.

  • Power, D'Arcy, Sir, 1855-1941
Date:
1928
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Epoch-making books in British surgery. III, A proved practise for all young chirurgians by William Clowes maister in chirurgerie / by Sir D'Arcy Power, K.B.E., F.S.A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY VOL. XV. JANUARY, 1928. No. 59. EPOCH-MAKING BOOKS IN BRITISH ' - SURGERY. By Sir D’ARCY POWER, K.B.E., London. III. A PROVED PRACTISE FOR ALL YOUNG CHIRURGIANS BY WILLIAM CLOWES MAISTER IN CHIRURGERY. William Clowes the elder, for he had a son who was Serjeant Surgeon to King Charles I, was one of the most prolific surgical writers of his day. He was on good terms with his fellow-surgeons because he was honest in all his dealings, but he hated and was hated by the numerous quacks and unlicensed practitioners who abounded in London in the middle of the sixteenth century, and he made common cause with Gale, Hall, and Read to expose their mis¬ deeds and to raise surgery to the dignity of a profession. The first act of the United Barber-Surgeons Company was to improve the surgical education of their apprentices and members. Examinations were instituted, Gale and Clowes made the examinations a reality and tried to improve the standard by writing treatises which correspond to our modern text-books. Both wrote in English, but the method adopted by Clowes was wholly different from that used by Gale. Clowes told in detail the particulars of cases which he had himself seen, and then set out the treatment he had adopted. He was a good surgeon, trained in the wars like Gale, but he had his limitations, at any rate according to modern views. He was too fond of ointments and plasters, and was especially proud of an oil of whelps (Oleum catulorum) which he had invented, though he does not explain why puppy dogs’ fat was better than that of lard or suet. “ The Proved Practice ” was published in 1588, and it may therefore be looked upon as the third text-book of surgery published in English of which we have at present any certain knowledge—Arderne’s works being the first; Gale’s being the second. The treatise deals chiefly with gunshot wounds and similar injuries, but much incidental matter is introduced, and it is well worth reading for a picture of life in the times when it was written. Chapter 8 gives an account of the amputation of a “mortified and corrupt leg or arm” in the following words :•— “ If it so fall out, or happen, that a leg is to be cut off beneath the knee, 99 VOL. XV.—NO. 59.