An Interactive Annotated World Bibliography of Printed and Digital Works in the History of Medicine and the Life Sciences from Circa 2000 BCE to 2022 by Fielding H. Garrison (1870-1935), Leslie T. Morton (1907-2004), and Jeremy M. Norman (1945- ) Traditionally Known as “Garrison-Morton”

15961 entries, 13944 authors and 1935 subjects. Updated: March 22, 2024

GROSS, Samuel David

12 entries
  • 4316.1

The anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the bones and joints.

Philadelphia: John Grigg, 1830.

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”.



Subjects: ORTHOPEDICS › Diseases of or Injuries to Bones, Joints & Skeleton, ORTHOPEDICS › Orthopedic Surgery & Treatments › Fractures & Dislocations
  • 1737

Observations on manual strangulation, illustrated by cases and experiments.

West J. med. phys. Sci., 9, 25-38, 1836.

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.



Subjects: Forensic Medicine (Legal Medicine)
  • 2292

Elements of pathological anatomy. 2 vols.

Boston, MA: Marsh, 1839.

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.



Subjects: PATHOLOGY
  • 3446

An experimental and critical inquiry into the nature and treatment of wounds of the intestines.

Louisville, KY: Prentice & Weissinger, 1843.

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.



Subjects: GASTROENTEROLOGY › Esophagus: Stomach: Duodenum: Intestines, SURGERY: General › Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
  • 3264

A practical treatise on foreign bodies in the air-passages.

Philadelphia: Blanchard & Lea, 1854.

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.



Subjects: OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY (Ear, Nose, Throat) › Laryngology
  • 5607

A system of surgery; pathological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and operative. 2 vols.

Philadelphia: Blanchard & Lea, 1859.

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”. 



Subjects: SURGERY: General
  • 7815

A manual of military surgery: or, hints on the emergencies of field, camp and hospital practice.

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1861.

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.



Subjects: American (U.S.) CIVIL WAR MEDICINE, Emergency Medicine, MILITARY MEDICINE, SURGERY & HYGIENE
  • 12813

Lives of eminent American physicians and surgeons of the nineteenth century. Edited by Samuel D. Gross.

Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1861.

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



Subjects: BIOGRAPHY (Reference Works)
  • 12404

Memoir of Valentine Mott, M.D., LL.D., Professor of surgery in the University of the City of New York; member of the Institute of France.

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1868.

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



Subjects: BIOGRAPHY (Reference Works) › Biographies of Individuals, SURGERY: General › History of Surgery
  • 5795

A century of American surgery.

Amer. J. med. Sci., n.s., 71, 431-84, 1876.

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



Subjects: COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States , SURGERY: General › History of Surgery
  • 6761

History of American medical literature from 1776 to the present time.

Philadelphia: Collins, 1876.


Subjects: BIBLIOGRAPHY › Bibliographical Classics, COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States
  • 6586

A century of American medicine 1776-1876. By Edward H. Clarke, H. J. Bigelow, S. D. Gross, T. Gaillard Thomas and J. S. Billings.

Philadelphia: H. C.Lea, 1876.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.



Subjects: COUNTRIES, CONTINENTS AND REGIONS › United States