Menders of the Maimed: The Anatomical and Physiological Principles Underlying the Treatment of Injuries to Muscles, Nerves, Bones, and Joints

Abstract

Any orthopedist who fails to read this reprint of the original 1919 edition misses a superb opportunity to acquire an enjoyable and valuable historical perspective of his specialty. The remarkable volume combines a careful delineation of the development of orthopedics with many valuable (and still valid) dissertations on therapy of diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The conversational style of writing provides a vivid portrayal of pioneer orthopedists that would undoubtedly be impossible in a more traditional style. The lucid description of the personality, motivation, emotions, and eccentricities of giants such as John Hunter, Hugh Owen Thomas, William Little, Duchenne, Bauer, Lane, and others provides a unique insight into the reasons underlying many of their published ideas. This book contains sections that focus on some of the most forceful of these men. Most of the book, however, examines the development of various segments of orthopedics (tenotomy, mechanism of muscle