"There have been many descriptions of the palmar fascia by anatomists and in papers dealing with the surgical treatment of Dupuytren's contracture, but what seems to be lacking is an overall view of the problem, based on an anatomical study with a strong surgical viewpoint, which reproduces all the known observations and the explains the rleationships of the various structures to each other" (first paragraph of the Preface by the author.).   Appendix I, pp. 107-224, includes the text, in English translation where necessary, of previous classics on Dupuytren's contracture, beginning in the 18th century. There is also a comprehensive historical bibliography.`