During the American Civil War (1861-1865) military surgeons carried a book with them through the battlefields and army hospitals. This book was adopted by the Surgeon-General of the United States Army soon after it's publication in Dublin in 1860. It was a 'bible' to army surgeons. The book was Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body, Descriptive and Surgical with the Descriptive Anatomy of the Heart by one John Hatch Power FRCSI.
John Hatch Power was born on 24 November 1806 in Dublin. From a young age he showed an interest and aptitude in surgery. So after receiving some instruction in surgery he was apprenticed to Robert Adams at the age of 19.
On 7 May 1831 Power received his licence from the College and soon afterwards became Demonstrator in the Richmond Medical School. In 1838 he graduated M.D. from Glasgow University and in December 1844 Power became a Fellow of the College. Power was appointed Surgeon to Jervis Street Hospital in 1847 and that same year he was elected a member of the College Council.
Power's skill and in depth surgical knowledge lead him to be appointed Professor of Anatomy in 1851. He kept this position until his untimely death from typhus fever in 1863. Power published his work Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body, Descriptive and Surgical with the Descriptive Anatomy of the Heart in 1860. This book was very well received in the medical world. The first edition contained numerous colour illustrations, a few of which can be seen below.
The books third edition which was published in Philadelphia was 'authorised and adopted' by the Surgeon-General of the United States Army. Power's descriptions and executions in the book were easy to follow and to the point. This meant surgeons who were in and/or on a battlefield and under immense pressure to save lives quickly could conveniently consult the book and carry on with their work.
Power contributed a number of respected papers on surgery and anatomy that were published in the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science and the Hospital Gazette.
Unfortunately like other surgeons of the time Power died at the peak of his career. His legacy is one of international proportions. Soldiers injured during the American Civil War would have been particularly appreciative of Power's skills!
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| Power's Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body published in 1860 |
John Hatch Power was born on 24 November 1806 in Dublin. From a young age he showed an interest and aptitude in surgery. So after receiving some instruction in surgery he was apprenticed to Robert Adams at the age of 19.
On 7 May 1831 Power received his licence from the College and soon afterwards became Demonstrator in the Richmond Medical School. In 1838 he graduated M.D. from Glasgow University and in December 1844 Power became a Fellow of the College. Power was appointed Surgeon to Jervis Street Hospital in 1847 and that same year he was elected a member of the College Council.
Power's skill and in depth surgical knowledge lead him to be appointed Professor of Anatomy in 1851. He kept this position until his untimely death from typhus fever in 1863. Power published his work Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body, Descriptive and Surgical with the Descriptive Anatomy of the Heart in 1860. This book was very well received in the medical world. The first edition contained numerous colour illustrations, a few of which can be seen below.
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| John Hatch Power (1806-1863) |
The books third edition which was published in Philadelphia was 'authorised and adopted' by the Surgeon-General of the United States Army. Power's descriptions and executions in the book were easy to follow and to the point. This meant surgeons who were in and/or on a battlefield and under immense pressure to save lives quickly could conveniently consult the book and carry on with their work.
Power contributed a number of respected papers on surgery and anatomy that were published in the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science and the Hospital Gazette.
Unfortunately like other surgeons of the time Power died at the peak of his career. His legacy is one of international proportions. Soldiers injured during the American Civil War would have been particularly appreciative of Power's skills!
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| Illustration showing the relations between the vessels and nerves in the lower part of the neck from Power's Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body |
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| Illustration of the anterior of the heart from Power's Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body |
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| Illustration of the anatomy of the forearm from Power's Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body |
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy