The first American treatise on orthopedics. In his autobiography Gross wrote that, “The title was unfortunate; it should have been A practical treatise on fractures and dislocations, with an account of the diseases of the bones and joints”.

After performing an autopsy on a strangulation case, Gross set out to study the physiology involved in manual strangulation. He set up a series of experiments on dogs for this purpose and provides autopsy reports on each as well as guidelines for medical examiners investigating strangulations.

In his day Gross was the most famous surgeon in the U.S.A. He was for a time Professor of General Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathological Anatomy at Cincinnati Medical College and while there published his Elements, the first exhaustive, systematic study of pathological anatomy in English. Gross was the first to precede each description of the morbid anatomy of an organ with an account of its healthy color, weight, size and consistence founded on original research. The second edition of 1845 was considerably revised and enlarged, while the third edition of 1857 was abridged. Horner’s book (No. 2287) was the only important work on pathology to precede it in America.

Reports of a series of experiments upon dogs to determine the best way to treat intestinal wounds. First published in West. J. Med. Surg., 1843. 7, 1-50, [81]-141, [161]-224.

First systematic study of the subject. In this celebrated work Gross laid down principles concerning symptoms which are still fundamental, despite the advent of roentgenology.

A profound intellect in 19th-century American surgery, Gross was both a surgical innovator and an outstanding author of numerous works that became classics. This massive treatise containing nearly 2500 pages was intended to be “the most elaborate, if not the most complete treatise in the English language”. 

Digital facsimile of the second edition (1862) from the Hathi Trust at this link. Notably in 1862 this small work written for Union surgeons was reprinted in Richmond, Virginia for the use of Confederate surgeons. The Richmond publisher J. W. Randolph, published an informative note on the source of this edition on the verso of the title page. It reads:

"In view of the great want of some convenient work on Military Surgery, we present a valuable little Treatise recently published by Dr. S.D. Gross, of Philadelphia. The book trade between the two sections of the continent having been interrupted, it has rendered it impossible for Dr. Gs publishers to furnish the work to the Southern Public. We avail ourselves of the copy recently published in the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal, Augusta, Geo."

Digital facsimile of the Richmond edition from the Internet Archive at this link.

Digital facsimile from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

An insightful biography written by a colleague in surgery. Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

The first serious history of American surgery to 1876. Also published in No. 6586.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.