Tassin - Administrations anatomiques et la myologie - 1696

TASSIN, LÉONARD. — THE ANATOMICAL ADMINISTRATIONS, AND THE MYOLOGY [FOLLOWED BY:] MILITARY SURGERY, OR THE ART OF HEALING WOUNDS FROM ARQUEBUSADES (LYON, WIDOW JEAN-BAPTISTE GUILLIMIN, 1696).
Lyon: Widow of Jean-Baptiste Guillimin, 1696.
In-12. Contemporary full calfskin binding, spine with raised bands ornamented.
Lyon edition from the late 17th century printed by the widow of Jean-Baptiste Guillimin on the famous rue Mercière.

The work gathers the synthetic teaching of Léonard Tassin intended for surgeons of the king’s armies, the Sun King’s. The first part (The Anatomical Administrations) teaches the method of dissection of the organs and myology (description of the muscles). The second part (Military Surgery) constitutes a practical field guide for battlefield aid: treatment of wounds from firearms, fractures from arquebus balls, gangrene, cauterization, and emergency amputations.

Copy preserved in its 17th‑century full brown calf binding. Spine with raised bands ornamented with gilded fleurones in the compartments. The binding shows pronounced wear at the head of the spine (top cap torn with substantial loss of leather on the head compartment), usual rubbing at the corners and along the edges. The binding remains firmly attached. Interior sound on period laid paper. The two title pages (Administrations Anatomiques and Chirurgie Militaire) are well preserved and complete, with slight handling marks and marginal fraying on the first leaf. Numerous wormholes with light text damage.

In the 17th century, the massive introduction of firearms on the battlefield profoundly changed medicine: surgeons faced wounds of a new kind, torn and infected by lead and gunpowder. Léonard Tassin was one of the first to codify emergency procedures for extracting arquebus balls and to avert death by gangrene!"