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Cicero's Head, Red-Lion Pasiage, Fleet-Street: John Nichols 1794. Wraps. First Edition. Michael Ciaschini in an article on the History of Plastic Surgery on eMedicine remarks : 'Not until the end of the 18th century did reconstructive surgery begin to resurface in Europe, ultimately providing the foundation of the modern era of reconstructive plastic surgery. The most often-cited impetus to this new age of reconstructive surgery was a simple letter published in London in October of 1794 [offered here] on page 891 of the Gentleman's Magazine by a British surgeon named Lucas.' Ciaschini further notes that Carpue, a British surgeon, read this account and reasoned that 'if such a procedure could be performed in India by brickmakers, surgeons in Britain certainly could achieve it.' After cadaver practice, Carpue performed several operations, publishing the results in his work AN ACCOUNT OF TWO SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS FOR RESTORING A LOST NOSE FROM THE INTEGUMENTS OF THE FOREHEAD. This account wasn't published until 1816, a full 22 years after the impetus for his work, the report offered here, was published. 'The first report published in Europe on the so-called Indian or Hindu method of rhinoplasty using a forehead flap, accompanied by an engraving of the patient, Cowasjee, with a restored nose and showing the stages of the operation.' (Garrison-Morton (5735.1) We offer the October 1794 issue which contains this important article as an extract from a bound journal, including the October 'title page' and pages 873-968. This issue contains the engraving of the operation (opposite page 883), as well as the letter sent to Gentleman’s magazine describing the procedure on pages 891-2. A nice addition to any collection of material related to plastic surgery or medical procedures. Very Good.

[Book #18646]