Details
RAVATON, Hughes. Chirurgie d'armee, ou trait des plaies d'armes feu, et d'armes blanches. Paris: Pierre Franois Didot le jeune, 1768.
8o (199 x 127 mm). Royal privilege on 2V7v, seven full-page engraved plates showing surgical instruments, casts and traction apparatus for broken limbs and treatment of sword wounds (small marginal tear 2F1). Contemporary French dark red morocco gilt, covers with triple fillet borders and small floral tools at corners, central armorial device of the duc de Choiseul (Olivier 834 fer 7), spine gilt and gilt-lettered, g.e., Dutch gilt endpapers, blue silk marker (very slightly chipped at top and bottom of spine, one board edge slightly chipped, front joint slightly cracked). Provenance: tienne-Franois de Choiseul-Stainville, duc de Choiseul (1719-1785), the dedicatee (supra-libros); F. Risto, "Medicin," (bookplate dated 1843 on verso of title).
FIRST EDITION, THE DEDICATION COPY. "One of the most important works on military surgery during the 18th century. Ravaton, a skillful army surgeon, was the first to employ a tin [actually iron] boot...for the 'hanging' position of broken bones. He was also the first to adopt the double-flap method in amputations" (Garrison-Morton). The Duc de Choiseul, Colonel-General of the Swiss Guards, veteran of the War of Austrian Succession, intimate of Madame de Pompadour, was ambassador to Rome and Vienna and France's minister of foreign affairs before he was forced into retirement by his enemies, who included Madame du Barry. Garrison-Morton 2154 Waller 7765; Wellcome IV, p. 478; Norman 1782A.
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FIRST EDITION, THE DEDICATION COPY. "One of the most important works on military surgery during the 18th century. Ravaton, a skillful army surgeon, was the first to employ a tin [actually iron] boot...for the 'hanging' position of broken bones. He was also the first to adopt the double-flap method in amputations" (Garrison-Morton). The Duc de Choiseul, Colonel-General of the Swiss Guards, veteran of the War of Austrian Succession, intimate of Madame de Pompadour, was ambassador to Rome and Vienna and France's minister of foreign affairs before he was forced into retirement by his enemies, who included Madame du Barry. Garrison-Morton 2154 Waller 7765; Wellcome IV, p. 478; Norman 1782A.