Memories

1768 · ref. 22242 — 1768. Arnaud de Ronsil Georges. Mémoires de Chirurgie avec quelques remarques historiques sur l'état de la médecine & de la chirurgie en France & en Angleterre. Seconde Partie. London: Chez J. Nourse; Paris: Chez Desaint 1768. First edition Volume II. An important companion volume to Mémoires de Chirurgie Vol. I which contains his extensive "Dissertation sur les hermaphrodites" a substantial eighteenth-century study of intersex genital variance. Volume II continues Arnaud's broader investigation of genital and reproductive anatomy through operative surgery and medical instrumentation. The volume includes a lengthy section on vaginal exams titled "Speculum Uteri propre à faire les recherches necessaires aux maladies du vagin et du col de la matrice." This section describes a uterine speculum devised to permit physicians to examine diseases of the vagina and cervix explicitly criticizing earlier instruments for obstructing the physician's view and includes several plates of the instrument with explanations. The volume places Arnaud's earlier study of intersex bodies within the larger surgical and anatomical practice through which eighteenth-century physicians examined classified and treated genital anatomy. Arnaud's Mémoires is now recognized bibliographically as a two-part work whose first part includes essays on the number and position of the testicles and the "Dissertation sur les hermaphrodites" while the second concentrates primarily on hernias and surgical instruments. First edition second part. 4to. The pagination continues from the first part beginning at p. 401 and extending through p. 828 followed by supplementary matter. Contents include investigations of omental hernias; a surgical chair illustrated with five plates; the Speculum Uteri illustrated with two plates; an operation for crural hernia in men with two plates; and the Saphyletome an instrument for excising the uvula with one plate followed by Arnaud's discourse on anatomy. Pale green boards with marbled spine. Binding tight with moderate rubbing to covers; interior text and plates clean and well preserved. Overall good condition. unknown books