Bell's Surgery - 1788
7/9/24 (updated 11/25/25)Bell's Surgery, formally titled "A System of Surgery," is a comprehensive surgical text by Benjamin Bell that aimed to bring together the art of surgery in a broad and orderly form. It covers the knowledge of diseases requiring manual intervention and surgical treatment, representing one of the foremost surgical textbooks of its time in the late 18th century. The work systematically organized surgical practices and techniques, contributing significantly to the development of surgery as a scientific discipline during that period.Benjamin Bell's "A System of Surgery" stands as a magnum opus that attempted to codify and teach the principles, techniques, and practical knowledge necessary for surgical practice, making it a foundational surgical reference of its day.About Benjamin BellBenjamin Bell (1749–1806) was a distinguished Scottish surgeon widely regarded as the first Scottish scientific surgeon and the father of the Edinburgh school of surgery. He is best known for his foundational surgical textbook, "A System of Surgery," which became highly influential across Europe and America. Bell made important contributions to surgery by promoting rational, scientific approaches, advocating for pain relief during surgery, and advancing wound healing techniques. He trained under notable medical figures, practiced surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and was a respected surgeon with a significant surgical practice. Bell's family continued his legacy in surgery through several generations, including his great-grandson Joseph Bell, who inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.Source: Perplexity.aiCurated by Gabrielle Ly
