The book is organized into 50 lectures, each written in a clear narrative style. The introduction contains a concise summary of the highlights of surgical history, and the chapters unfold as a remarkable description of all that was known in 1863 of the origins of surgical diseases, their pathologic manifestations, and their treatment. The illustrations, most of which are sketches of microscopic material, are excellent. Clinical anecdotes are used to illustrate textual statements, and the personal experience of the lecturer is leavened with that of authorities of the past as well as contemporary writers.