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

COOPER, Sir Astley Paston

12 entries
  • 3361

Farther observations on the effects which take place from the destruction of the membrana tympani of the ear; with an account of an operation for the removal of a particular species of deafness.

Phil. Trans., 91, 435-50, 1801.

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.



Subjects: OTOLOGY › Otologic Surgery & Procedures
  • 3581

The anatomy and surgical treatment of inguinal and congenital hernia. London, Cox, 1804. The anatomy and surgical treatment of crural and umbilical hernia.

London: Longman, 1807.

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).



Subjects: SURGERY: General › Hernia
  • 2929

A case of aneurism of the carotid artery.

Med.-chir. Trans., 1, 1-12, 222-33, 1809.

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).



Subjects: VASCULAR SURGERY › Ligations
  • 2941
  • 5587

Surgical essays. 2 vols.

London: Cox & Son, 18181819.

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.



Subjects: ONCOLOGY & CANCER, SURGERY: General , VASCULAR SURGERY › Ligations
  • 4412.1

A treatise on dislocations, and on fractures of the joints.

London: Longman, 1822.

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).



Subjects: ORTHOPEDICS › Orthopedic Surgery & Treatments › Fractures & Dislocations
  • 5769

Illustrations of the diseases of the breast.

London: Longman, Rees & Co, 1829.

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



Subjects: PATHOLOGY, SURGERY: General › Diseases of the Breast
  • 4166

Observations on the structure and diseases of the testis.

London: Longmans, 1830.


Subjects: UROLOGY
  • 1119

The anatomy of the thymus gland.

London: Longman, 1832.

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.



Subjects: ANATOMY › 19th Century, Ductless Glands: Internal Secretion
  • 2954

Case of a femoral aneurism, for which the external iliac artery was tied, with an account of the preparation of the limb, dissected at the extirpation of eighteen years.

Guy’s Hosp. Rep., 1, 43-52, 1836.

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



Subjects: VASCULAR SURGERY › Ligations
  • 2955

Account of the first successful operation, performed on the carotid artery, for aneurism, in the year 1808; with the post-mortem examination in 1821.

Guy’s Hosp. Rep., 1, 53-58, 1836.

See No. 2929.



Subjects: VASCULAR SURGERY › Ligations
  • 2956

Some experiments and observations on tying the carotid and vertebral arteries, and the pneumo-gastric, phrenic, and sympathetic nerves.

Guy’s Hosp. Rep., 1, 457-75, 654, 1836.


Subjects: VASCULAR SURGERY › Ligations
  • 5769.1

On the anatomy of the breast. 2 vols.

London: Longman, 1840.

Anatomical sequel to No. 5769, with outstanding illustrations.



Subjects: SURGERY: General › Diseases of the Breast