Orthopaedia, or, A practical treatise on the aberrations of the human form : by James Knight.

  • Knight, James, 1810-1887.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Orthopaedia, or, A practical treatise on the aberrations of the human form : by James Knight. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    selfish motives, kept his discoveries in treatment as secluded as pos- sible. To accomplish his unprofessional designs, he established an institution in which he attained much notoriety for his successful treatment of talipes. His enterprise was only of short duration, and terminated at his death. Dr. Ehremann, a patient of Yenel, acquired a tolerable knowledge of his apparatus and treatment, which was subsequently practised by Briickner, of Goth a, and Naumberg, of Erfurt. The latter published the results obtained from Venel's treatment in 1796.* In the preface of a translation of Scarpa's monograph SiiUe Piedi Ferti, into German, by Malfatti, a description is given of the proceedings of Scarpa, which led to the construction of his cele- brated, and, with slight modifications by noted Orthopedists, the most approved shoe at the present day for the treatment of talipes varus and valgus. It is stated that, in 1781, Scarpa resided in Paris, and passing by Tiphaisne's abode, he noticed in the window draw- ings of deformed feet and of those that had been cured. He became immediately very desirous of obtaining information in regard to this successful treatment, and sought an acquaintance with Tiphaisne. The only information he derived thereby was from an incidental remark made by this skilful man in the course of general conversation, viz.: Nature will not yield to violence, but only to gradual force. This excited still more the curiosity of this ingenious surgeon, and he determined to obtain the information at almost any peril — not for any sinister purpose, but that he might make known his discoveries for the benefit of his suflFering fellow- man. It is stated that Scarpa availed himself of an opportunity, during the temporary absence of Tiphaisne, to enter the private room of the latter through favor of the housekeeper, where he found only a steel spring lying on a cushion. Although his conduct in this special matter is not commendable, yet it does not detract from his indomitable energy and ingenuity, by which he gave to posterity so valuable an invention. From this very circumstance it is most reasonable to award the credit of the invention to Scarpa, the most eminent anatomist and surgeon of his day. He published his remarkable work about the beginning of the nineteenth century, after having made himself familiar with the ailment, and the condition of the deformity, which latter know- * « Abliandlung iiber Verkrummungen.