A Treatise on Ruptures

Pott's first book is a classic study of hernia and the most important book on the subject since the sixteenth century. After a fall from his horse, Pott (1714-1788) was confined to bed with a broken leg and at that time he wrote this treatise, his first important monograph. In it he refutes many of the old theories of hernia and its treatment and gives the first description of congenital hernia. Pott had enormous clinical experience and provides his reader with a wealth of case reports which provide clear insight into the medical customs of his day. G&M3576. Besides this accomplishment, Pott is also considered to be one of the founders of modern orthopedics. Surgeons who wished to amputate his fractured leg were rebuffed; Pott persuaded them to put a splint on the leg and in time he recovered completely. He was also the first scientist to demonstrate that a cancer may be caused by an environmental carcinogen. Specifically he linked the soot encountered by chimney sweeps to carcinoma, which triggered government acts to protect "climbing boys."