Following the advances made in classical times, who kept our knowledge of medical and surgical methods alive throughout the Middle Ages?
Arabs. Much of the teaching and writings from classical times were lost during the Middle Ages only being preserved to some degree in the monasteries, but the Nestorians - who are said to have inherited part of the Great Library of Alexandria, established medical teaching in Arabia and translated classical works, such as those of Galen.
Who wrote Humana Corporis Fabrica?
Versalius. The beautifully illustrated book on anatomy was written by Andrea Versalius (1514-1564) who was born in the Belgian town of Wesen, but worked for most of his life at the University of Padua.
In which city was Tagliacozzi the Professor of Anatomy and Surgery?
Bologna. Being one of the first surgeons to attend university, he was born in Bologna; he worked there all his life and gained a doctorate before taking up anatomy and surgery.
When was Tagliacozzi’s book, De Curtorum Chirurgia per Insitionem, published?
1597. The official Bindoni edition was printed in Venice in 1597 and was copied in a pirated version the same year. Tagliacozzi died shortly after its publication in 1599.
Prior to the publication of his seminal work on nasal reconstruction to whom did Tagliacozzi write giving details of his method?
Mercurialis. In 1586 Tagliacozzi wrote to the influential Mercurialis. He had visited Bologna to see the technique and wrote about nasal reconstruction in Italy in De Decoratione Liber published in 1585. The letter gave details of Tagliacozzi’s further experience and was published in its entirety in the second edition of Mercurialis in 1587.
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