The Diagnosis of Surgical Cancer. (The Liston Prize Essay for 1854).
1855. London: John Churchill, 1855.
Slim 8vo, 77pp., 2 plates at the end, then [28] pp. ads for Churchill's "Publications in Medicine, Surgery, and Science". Original green cloth, hinges repaired at front and back, cloth dull and backstrip with some wear.
§ First edition of the author's first book; presentation copy inscribed on the title-page by the author "With the Author's best complts" and a 4pp. mostly illegible ALs from the author to Dr. Long tipped in facing the title-page. A little known but apparently quite early and important study by this ophthalmic surgeon, best known for his recognition of Laurence-Moon syndrome and his research on retinitis pigmentosa. The essay won the Liston prize for 1854. In the Journal of Ophthalmology for 1932 there is a long essay on Laurence (who died at the age of 42) entitled "A Belated Tribute" by Arnold Sorsby (pp. 727-740, with a bibliography of his writings). Laurence was a brilliant student and later ophthalmologist who founded the South London Ophthalmic Hospital (now the Royal Eye Hospital) and among many unrecognised achievements he first described macular degeneration. The essay concludes: "the work that he started and did not see completed is today a living force. He has become an integral part of modern ophthalmology, as founder of an important hospital, as a pioneer in ophthalmic journalism, and as one of the forerunners of that growing school of thought which correlates ocular defect with bodily structure." Not in Garrison-Morton. Armorial bookplate of Richard Long M.D. Item #125018
Price: $2,750.00