Medical, Medical History and Medical Science

The Great Age of the Microscope – Professor Gerard L’E Turner

One of if not the book on the development of the microscope. Issued as a celebration of the then 150-year-old Royal Microscopical Society and based on its irreplaceable and undisputably best collection in the world.

Published by specialist Adam Hilger, Bristol and New York in 1989. Quarto, 379 pages, nicely illustrated with several hundred images from photographs of the items described.

The author, Gerard L’E Turner was Professor of the History of Scientific Instruments at Imperial College, London – what job! He was a Research Fellow at the Science Museum and one time President of the esteemed Royal Microscopical Society.

The Society was formed in 1839 and every instrument they purchased, from the very first that year, is still held by the Society. This book covers over 450 prime examples starting from those made in the early 1700’s.

After preliminary explanations on instrument development and the formation of the Society we have … Compound early 17thC; Culpeper style; Cuff style; Gould type; Powell and Lealand; Ross; Smith and Beck; Swift; non British; Projection; Reflecting and then a plethora of associated instruments.

No better Modern book on Old Microscopes

$140.00

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Allen & Hanburys Ltd – Abridged Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances – Aseptic Hospital Furniture and Electro-Medical Apparatus. – c1920

Possibly the most important reference of the period on the subject. Allen & Hanburys were at 48 Wigmore Street, London W1 with a factory at Bethnal Green and other facilities in Hertfordshire and Norway (Cod Liver Oil).

Abridged in their world means large octavo 739 pages. Original red cloth covered boards, titles etc blind stamped on spine, white to front. No date but references show circa 1920. Thousands of illustrations, frontispiece of the principal premises. Pasted onto inside front is a 28 page price list from April, 1925. All in very good condition.

By this time Allen & Hanburys were leading players with businesses in South Africa, China, Australia, India, South America, USA, Canada, Arabia, New Zealand, West Indies and throughout Europe.

Items covered include far too numerous to list even by category, they appear to cover every aspect. We have provided quite a few images to give some idea.

Special Medical instrument Reference from the distinguished Allen & Hanburys.

$120.00

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Antique Medical Instruments – Wilbur

Published by Schiffer, i.e. the pen people, of Atglen, USA. The 2008 edition with updates by the distinguished Keith Wilbur MD who can trace back his descendants to Rhode Island 1636.

We mention the “pen people” as the book is rather whimsically produced in an unusual cursive font with matching line drawing of instruments.

Quarto, softcover 149 pages. Seems to be a bit under-rated for a book we really rate not just for the beginner but the serious collector too. We also like that it has a very good section on the development of the microscope often omitted from this subject matter. A semi-useful price guide at least provides perspective … 18th Century medical instruments can hardly come cheap. A list of medical museums in the USA good prove a valuable starting point for a holiday focussed on such matters. Plan your next trip.

Wilbur’s Medical Instruments a great place to start … and more

$50.00

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The Hand its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design – Sir Charles Bell – 1833

Published by William Pickering, London in 1833. A second printing same year as the first, revised and expanded.

Octavo, 314 pages with numerous engravings throughout the text. Bound in contemporary half calf, spine gilt ruled with raised bands and separate leather title label. A very nice copy of an important fundamental work.

Constituted the fourth volume of the remarkable Bridgewater Treatises (See our other listing).

A landmark book by Scottish Surgeon Sir Charles Bell (1774-1842). He was the first Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the London College of Surgeons and established the Medical School at the University of London where he headed up the Surgery Department.

Medical Classic by Sir Charles Bell

$180.00

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Neurological Fragments – J Hughlings Jackson

Originally published by Oxford Medical Publications in 1925. Selected by the Classics of Medicine Advisory Board for their unusual fine treatment and republished in this form in 1983.

Octavo, 227 pages with index and including as an introduction a biographical memoir by James Taylor and “recollections” by sir Jonathan Hutchinson and Dr Charles Mercier.

Bound in full burgundy leather with lavish gilt decoration to boards, marbled endpapers, rich gilt edges and silk marker ribbon. A lovely production. Contains 21 separate studies.

John Hughlings Jackson (1835-1911) was a pioneering neurologist. He was from Yorkshire and qualifies at St Barts, London in 1856. After a spell at York he returned to London and progressively held more senior positions in his field. His work on epilepsy was of particular note.

Jackson and his neurological fragments

$70.00

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Duodenal Ulcer – Moynihan

A special issue from the Classics of Medicine Series. Large octavo, 379 pages bound in full deep blue leather with lavish gilt work to boards and spine. Page edges richly gilt, marbled endpapers, silk marker ribbon intact.

A faithful facsimile of Moynihan’s key book on duodenal ulcers published by Saunders in 1910.

The author, Berkeley George Andrew Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan KCMG, CB, FRCS (1865-1936) was some fellow. He joined the Navy then after two years studied medicine at Leeds University and after graduation soon rose to be a surgeon. In the First World War he became Major General and was Chairman of the Army Advisory Board. He went on to do great things in medicine and was rewarded becoming the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1926.

He is quoted as saying that to be a perfect surgeon one must have the heart of a lion and the hands of a lady … and even more poetically “Infinite gentleness, scrupulous care, light handling and purposeful, effective, quiet movements which are no more than a caress, are all necessary if an operation is to be the work of an artists and not merely of a hewer of flesh”.

You could trust Moynihan with your duodenum

$60.00

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The Great Age of the Microscope – Professor Gerard L’E Turner

Allen & Hanburys Ltd – Abridged Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances – Aseptic Hospital Furniture and Electro-Medical Apparatus. – c1920

Antique Medical Instruments – Wilbur

The Hand its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design – Sir Charles Bell – 1833

Neurological Fragments – J Hughlings Jackson

Duodenal Ulcer – Moynihan

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