Skip to main content
Historical Bibliography Updated: June 17, 2026

Elements of surgery; for the use of students. 2 vols.

Publication Details

Philadelphia: E. Parker, 1813 CE.

The first systematic treatise on surgery written by an American. The work is notable for containing not only Dorsey’s original contributions, but for its publication of the work of Dorsey’s uncle and teacher, the pioneer American surgeon, Philip Syng Physick (1768-1837). Physick, who never learned to become a competent writer, asked his nephew to organize his teachings into a surgical handbook.

Thematic Classifications

Catalog MetadataReference Information
Entry Number#5585.1
Permanent Linkhttps://staging.historyofmedicine.com/entry/7030
Author Bio LinkWikipedia ↗
External URLelements-of-surgery-for-the-use-of-students-2-vols

Geographic Context

Publication place: Philadelphia