This collection of 417 plates on surgical procedures, instruments, and bandages, with 4 pages of explanatory text, was published in 96 parts between 1820 and 1847. Fifty-two of the plates were issued hand-colored. The work was initiated by Ludwig Friedrich Froriep and continued by his son Robert. The set is especially useful for orthopedics, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, etc. The work is primarily derivative from the published works of other authors including Astley Cooper, Travers, Rosenmüller, Walther, Scarpa, Dupuytren, Brüninghausen, Desalut, Boyer, Ford, Bellm Liston, Langenbruch, Seiler, Hagedorn, Szondi, Bateman, Dieffenbach, Graefe.

Froriep described what would later be known as fibromyalgia, describing it as "rheumatism with painful, hard places" that could be felt in many locations on the body. He characterized the condition as muskelschwiele (muscle callus).