Course of Surgical Pathology and Therapeutics (1785) - Prudent Hévin - Antique Medical Book - Part I

Original 18th-century French medical textbook on surgical pathology and treatment methods, published in Paris in 1785. This first part of Cours de Pathologie et de Thérapeutique Chirurgicales was written by the French surgeon Prudent Hévin (1715–1789) and published by Méquignon l'aîné, near the then-Écoles de Chirurgie in Paris.

Hévin was a professor of surgery and held several prominent medical positions at the French court. On the title page, he is listed among other things as former first surgeon to the Dauphin and as inspector of military and colonial hospitals. The work was intended for the training of surgical students and covers a wide range of conditions, their symptoms, and the surgical treatment methods applied at the time.

The book contains an engraved portrait of Prudent Hévin and has been preserved in its characteristic 18th-century full leather binding. The spine has five raised bands and remains of the original gilt floral decoration. The fore- and tail edges are colored red, and there are colorful hand-marbled endpapers at both the front and back.

This copy comprises the complete first part of the work and runs to page 448, where "Fin de la première Partie" is explicitly stated. The original edition consists of two parts; the second part, which continues from page 449, is not present in this copy.

The binding shows clear signs of over two centuries of use. The leather on the boards and the spine is particularly heavily worn, and there is loss of material at the bottom of the spine. The original leather title label on the spine is damaged and partially detached. Despite the condition of the binding, the text block itself is still quite sturdy, and the interior has been relatively well preserved for its age.

An authentic medical-historical study book from pre-French Revolution France, interesting for collectors of early medicine, surgery, and 18th-century scientific books.

Details:

• Author: Prudent Hévin (1715–1789)
• Title: Cours de Pathologie et de Thérapeutique Chirurgicales
• Edition: Première Partie / part I of II
• Edition: Nouvelle édition, augmentée de remarques & observations importantes
• Publisher: Méquignon l'aîné
• Place of publication: Paris
• Year: 1785
• Language: French
• Subject: surgery, pathology, and therapeutics
• Extent of Part I: 448 pages plus preliminary matter
• Illustration: engraved portrait of Prudent Hévin
• Format: in-8
• Binding: original full leather binding
• Spine: five raised bands with gilt floral decoration
• Title label: leather, partially detached
• Endpapers: hand-marbled paper
• Edges: colored red
• Dimensions: approx. 20.5 × 13 cm
• Thickness: approx. 3.5 cm
• Origin: France
• Period: 18th century, Ancien Régime

Condition:
Fair antiquarian condition. The original leather binding shows very heavy wear, scuff marks, and loss of material. The corners and edges are heavily worn, and the spine shows cracks, damage, and loss of material, especially at the bottom. The original leather title label is damaged and partially detached. The marbled endpapers show wear and damage along the edges. The text block itself is still quite sturdy. The interior is clearly legible and relatively well preserved for its age, with age-related discoloration, scattered stains, signs of use, and occasional small tears and creases. The engraved portrait of the author is present. This copy contains only the complete first part up to and including page 448; the separate second part is missing. See the photos for a complete picture of the condition.