Читать книгу The Dawn of Modern Medicine онлайн

53 страница из 66

Of the other works published by Peter Frank, works which deal with pathology and the practice of medicine, the most important is that entitled “De Curandis Hominum Morbis Epitome” (“An abridged treatise on the diseases to which man is liable”). As he progressed with the writing of this treatise Frank undoubtedly discovered that he could not, with any degree of satisfaction, accomplish his original design of compressing what he had to say into an “epitome”; and so, from this time forward, he carried on the work, without paying any further attention to his original plan of an abridgment, until the book had reached its sixth volume; and even then it was not completed.^[8] Despite its incompleteness this work passed through several editions, for it was highly appreciated for its practical character and for the clearness of its descriptions of disease.

In 1785 Frank accepted an invitation to take charge of the clinical instruction at the University of Pavia, in the place of Tissot who had resigned. Through Frank’s advice and persistent efforts the medical department of the Pavia University was enriched by the addition of a chair of physiology and comparative anatomy, an anatomical theatre capable of seating 400 auditors, and a collection of pathologico-anatomical preparations to which all the hospitals of that part of Lombardy were obliged to contribute suitable specimens. The establishment of a surgical clinic was another of the improvements in the teaching facilities of the University that should be credited to Peter Frank. The length of the medical course was at his suggestion extended to five years. Among his associates in the Faculty at this period were the following distinguished men: Scarpa, in the chair of surgery, Scopoli, in that of pharmacology, and Volta in physics.