Please welcome the second item to take the spotlight in our 'Intriguing Heritage Items' series......
The Surgeons' Mate or Military and Domestique Surgery
by John Woodall
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| The Surgeon's Mate by John Woodall dated 1639 Woodall himself can be seen in the bottom middle portrait |
This copy of John Woodall's book is housed in the RCSI Mercer Library and dates from 1639. Woodall was an English surgeon born in 1570 who lived for long periods in Germany, Poland, Holland and mainland Europe. In 1604 when King James I of England sent an embassy to Poland and Russia, Woodall was included because of his knowledge of these countries and their languages. The man leading this embassy was Sir Thomas Smith was Governor of the East India Company and soon to be employer of Woodall. In 1612 Woodall was appointed Surgeon General of the East India Company.
Woodall's career continued upwards and he was appointed surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1616 and in 1626 he was appointed to supervise the furnishing of medical and surgical chests to both the British army and navy. He held the same type of contract with the East India Company up until his death in 1643.
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| Illustrations of medical instruments Woodall suggests should be in the surgeon's chest |
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| Woodall lists everything that should be included in the surgeon's chest |
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| Woodall also explains how different elements can be used by the surgeon, including the planets |
The first edition of The Surgeon's Mate was published in 1617. Later editions were updated with new treatments for ailments such as gangrene, the plaque, gunshot wounds and scurvy. The 1639 edition finishes with a piece on instruments that could be used for amputation which includes illustrations of said instruments. And in case you were in any doubt, in the bottom right hand corner you can see how one particular instrument could be used to lop off a finger!
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| Woodall's piece 'Concerning the Instruments for Amputation' |
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| Be careful where you rest your finger! |
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy