REPORT Of An OPERATION For REMOVING A FOREIGN BODY From BENEATH The HEART. Published by the San Francisco County Midico Chirugical Association as a Additional Paper to its Transactions for the year 1857.
San Francisco: Whitton Towne & Co., Printers and Publishers, 1857. 1st printing (Cordasco 50-0405; Cowan II, p. 143; Greenwood 813). 9, [1 (blank)] pp. Old print-out of an ABE book listing laid-in. 8-7/8" x 5-3/4". Modern marbled paper wrappers. Now housed in a clear archival mylar sleeve. Light, old faded evidence of damping, mostly in margins. Foxing. A VG copy. Item #37456
Cooper a renowned physician of his day, founder of the first medical college on the Pacific Coast, at the University of the Pacific. This paper describes a 'daring' procedure wherein Cooper removed a 'slug of iron' from one B. T. Beal of Springfield, Tuolumne County. Seems Mr Beal, and a few friends, "in a frolicksome mood, resolved to burst an old gun, and accordingly loaded it with about eighteen inches of powder, to which they connected a slow match and then endeavored to seek security by flight." He failed. The 'slug of iron' entered Mr Beal below the left armpit and lodged under his heart 'upon the vertical column', where it remained for 74 days until Dr Cooper removed it. The patient recovered, said improvement in health to such a degree "as not to be recognized by medical men present at the operation".
No copies at auction these last 30+ years [per ABPC & Am Ex]; we know of one copy sold a couple years ago through the trade.
A rare item, known as one of the earliest published accounts of a California surgical procedure.
Price: $895.00