Pancoast, Operative Surgery, 1844

A Treatise on Operative Surgery; Comprising a Description of the Various Processes of the Art, Including All the New Operations. By Joseph Pancoast. 1844. Tall quarto/small folio volume (approx 12 x 10 x 1 3/4 inches) with new marble boards and leather spine. New end papers. 80 elaborate plates of surgical operations, also advertisements at front and end matter. Includes prospectus and sample plate for a forthcoming title on midwifery. Text pages mostly bright. Some foxing and frequent browning of page edges. This title is somewhat notorious for the plates browning and foxing, and this copy is no different (see photos) with some plates brighter than others. 19th century owners signature inside. Binding is tight. Topics in this book include bloodletting, amputations, mandibular resection, ophthalmology, etc etc. The name of Pancoast is immortalized in the Pancoast tumor (involvement of the brachial plexus by direct extension of malignant neoplasia of the upper lobe of the lung). This work was an instant success, a standard in its field, and remains highly praised and sought after! A very good and complete copy, recently rebound in period-style quarter leather binding. This work contains the first extensive section on plastic surgery in an American surgical text (see Garrison-Morton 5598).