Sir Astley Cooper reported three cases of Eustachian obstruction deafness relieved by perforation of the membrana tympani (myringotomy), an operation first performed by Eli, a quack, in 1760. Cooper’s earlier paper on the subject appeared in vol. 90 of the Phil. Trans. He also demonstrated air and bone conduction by watch (precursor of Rinne’s test). For this work he received the Copley Medal.

Cooper’s first book, luxuriously produced, in which he described for the first time the transversalis fascia, with full appreciation of its importance in hernia, as well as the superior pubic ligament with bears his name. Cooper made a study of femoral hernia and described “Cooper’s ligament”. He also studied diaphragmatic hernia. The second edition of 1827, entitled The anatomy and surgical treatment of abdominal hernia included his description of “Cooper’s hernia” (hernia femoralis fasciae superficialis).

Cooper ligated the common carotid artery on Nov. 1, 1805; the patient died, but a second case (June 22, 1808) proved successful. (See also No. 2955).

Cooper, the pupil and great interpreter of Hunter, was the most popular surgeon in London during the Regency. In 1802 he gained the Copley Medal of the Royal Society. Travers was surgeon to St. Thomas’s Hospital, and particularly distinguished himself in vascular surgery and ophthalmology. The book includes a description of “Cooper’s tumor”.

In 1817 Cooper ligated the abdominal aorta. The patient died next day, but examination showed that his aorta was so diseased that he could never have recovered, while the ligation was so well performed that with a lesser degree of aortic disease the man would probably have survived. Cooper published the report of this operation in Vol. 1, 101-30.

Through this and numerous subsequent editions this was the principal reference work on the subject in England and America for 30 years. “Many later clinical modifications were developed from Cooper’s methods” (Bick).

Includes one of the earliest descriptions of hyperplastic cystic disease of the breast, which Cooper referred to as “hydatid disease”.

Cooper, the most popular surgeon in London during the early part of the 19th century, was connected with both Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospitals. Among his best works is his description of the thymus; he described the “reservoir” of the thymus as lined by smooth mucous membrane and running spirally, not straight, through the gland.

The artery was tied in 1808, and the patient died in 1826.

See No. 2929.

Anatomical sequel to No. 5769, with outstanding illustrations.