1481 HIPPOCRATES, [Ἱπποκράτης; Hippocrates of Kos] (-460 – -370); BRENTIUS, Andreas (1454 – 1484)
De natura hominis. Add: De victu; De tuenda valetudine; Medicinae lex; Iusiurandum; Demonstratio quod artes sunt; Invectiva in obtrectatores medicinae. Tr: Andreas Brentius.
The writings of Hippocrates began to appear in print in the 1480s, and only a few of the works attributed to Hippocrates were printed in the 15th century. Though the date of this edition is unstated within the book it…
GMN 6929 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9094
1483 HIPPOCRATES, [Ἱπποκράτης; Hippocrates of Kos] (-460 – -370); PEROTTI, Nicolò (1430 – 1480)
Jusiurandum IN: Nicholaus Perottus, De generibus metrorum.
One of the two earliest dated printings of the Hippocratic Oath. Digital facsimile from the Dombibliothek Freising at this link. ISTC No. ip00298000. It is possible that an undated edition attributed to 1481 (Entry No…
GMN 1757.9 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3166
1483 HIPPOCRATES, [Ἱπποκράτης; Hippocrates of Kos] (-460 – -370); GENTILI DA FOLIGNO, Gentile (Gentilis Fulginas; Gentilis de Flugineo) ( – 1348); ARGILAGNES, Franciscus (1450 – )
De divisione librorum Galeni IN: Articella seu Opus artis medicinae.
Considering the central importance of Galen's writings in medicine from the time he wrote well through the sixteenth and even the seventeenth century, and the need for physicians to make sense of such a large number o…
GMN 6813 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8976
1495 ZERBI, Gabriele (1445 – 1505)
De cautelis medicorum.
The first practical treatise on medical ethics. "Following opening remarks on the ideal conduct of the physician, and his duties towards his patients, their relatives, and his own colleagues while avoiding the pervers…
GMN 1758.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3176
1566 SECURIS, John (1530 – 1580)
A detection and querimonie of the daily enormities and abuses committed in physick.
Securis was a Latinized version of the English surname Hatchett.
GMN 7223 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9391
1588 HIPPOCRATES, [Ἱπποκράτης; Hippocrates of Kos] (-460 – -370); JOHN OF ARDERNE (1307 – 1380); ARCEO, Francisco (1493 – 1571); READ, John (1550 – )
A most excellent and compendious method of curing woundes in the head, and in other partes of the body: With other precepts of the same arte, practised and written by that famous man Franciscus Arceus ... and translated into English by Iohn Read, chirurgion: Whereunto is added the exact cure of the caruncle, never before set foorth in the English toung: With a treatise of the fistulae in the fundament, and other places of the body, translated out of Iohannes Ardern: And also the discription of the emplaister called Dia Chalciteos, with its use and vertues: With an apt table for the better finding of the perticular matters, contayned in this present worke.
This translation by surgeon John Read contains the first printing of John of Arderne's writings on his operation for the cure of anal fistula, written originally about 1376. At one time John of Arderne practiced at Ne…
GMN 3416 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10207
1614 RODRIGUES DE CASTELO BRANCO, João (Amato Lusitano; Amatus Lusitanus) (1511 – 1568)
Medicus-politicus: Sive de officiis medico-politicis tractatus.
One of the first “modern” works on medical ethics. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 1759 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3180
1623 BACON, Francis (1561 – 1626)
Historia vitae & mortis. Sive, titulus secundus in historia naturali & experimentali ad condendam philosophiam: Quae est instaurationis magnae pars tertia.
This was Bacon's direct contribution to medicine or medical philosophy, with natural and experimental observations on the prolongation of life. Translated into English as The History naturall And experimentall, of lif…
GMN 10491 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12684
1638 HOERNIGK, Ludwig von (Hörnigk) (1600 – 1667)
Politia medica.
GMN 1760 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3185
1666 BOUDEWEYNS, Michiel
Ventilabrum medico-theologicum: Quo omnes casus, tum medicos, cum aegros, aliosque concernentes euentilantur, et quod SS.PP. conformius, scholasticis probabilius, & in conscientia tutius est, secernitur ...
An early work on Catholic medical morality. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 10343 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12535
1682 BONET, Théophile (1620 – 1689)
Mercurius compitalitius, sive, Index medico-practicus.per decisiones, cautiones, animadversiones, castigationes & observationes in sugulis affectibus praeter naturam et praesidiis medicis, deaeteticis, cheirurgicis & pharmaceuticis... Accessit appendix de medici munere.
Discusses 63 topics on medical ethics and decorum, patient behavior, medical diagnosis, prognosis, and practice guidelines, including how to relate to the patient in all matters, including extreme old age and death. "…
GMN 10017 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12206
1683 HARVEY, Gideon (1640 – 1700)
The conclave of physicians, detecting their intrigues, frauds, and plots, against their patients.
GMN 1761 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3191
1684 FRITSCH, Ahasuerus (1629 – 1701)
Medicus peccans, sive tractatus de peccatis medicorum.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 1762 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3192
1741 –1751 RODRÍGUEZ, Antonio José (1709 – 1781)
Nuevo aspecto de theologia medico-moral y ambos derechos, ó paradoxas phisico-theologico-legales. 3 vols.
Rodríguez, a self-taught Cistercian monk, dealt with issues in medical ethics in this manual for confessors.
GMN 10344 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12536
1769 BARD, Samuel (1742 – 1821)
A discourse upon the duties of a physician, with some sentiments, on the usefulness and necessity of a public hospital: Delivered before the president and governors of King's College, at the commencement, held on the 16th of May, 1769. As advice to those gentlemen who then received the first medical degrees conferred by that university.
The first American treatise on medical ethics, and the first treatise on medical ethics published in the English language. Samuel Bard was one of the founders of King’s College, New York. Digital facsimile from the Na…
GMN 1763 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3195
1770 GREGORY, John (1724 – 1773)
Observations on the duties and offices of a physician; and on the method of prosecuting enquiries in philosophy.
"The first philosophical, secular medical ethics in the English language" (Lawrence, Paul. "(John Gregory." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.). "Gregory divided the practice of medicine into four parts, or bran…
GMN 8132 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10308
1777 HUME, David (1711 – 1776)
Two essays. [Essay I. Of suicide]
Of suicide, "probably the most widely read and most influential philosophical treatment of suicide written in modern times," was written in 1755 and originally intended to be published as one of five essays, including…
GMN 10347 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12539
1789 RUSH, Benjamin (1745 – 1813)
Observations on the duties of a physician, and the methods of improving medicine. Accommodated to the present state of society and manners in the United States. Delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, February 7, 1789, at the conclusion of a course of lectures upon chemistry and the practice of physic.
Full text available from quod.lib.umich.edu at this link.
GMN 10348 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12540
1798 FERRIAR, John (1761 – 1815)
Of the treatment of the dying: Disturb him not - let him pass peaceably. IN: Medical histories and reflections, volume 3, 191-208.
"This apparently first-ever full essay on palliative care is tightly reasoned and carefully crafted—an innovative classic that attests to years of first-hand experience in the care of gravely ill and dying persons" (V…
GMN 10035 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12224
1803 PERCIVAL, Thomas (1740 – 1804)
Medical ethics; or, a code of institutes and precepts, adapted to the professional conduct of physicians and surgeons. To which is added an appendix; containing a discourse on hospital duties ....
An incomplete version was first printed for private circulation, 1794. Two variants dated 1794 are known: One is dated February 24, 1794 on the "advertisement" at the end, the other is dated April 4, 1794 on a leaf at…
GMN 1764 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3201
1810 BELL, John (1763 – 1820)
Letters on professional character and manners.
"A man of compassion, Bell made many enemies because he was outspoken about the unnecessary pain and suffering inflicted by incompetent surgeons practicing in Scotland. In 1800 he became involved in an unfortunate con…
GMN 1765 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3204
1834 TREBUCHET, Adolphe (1801 – 1865)
Jurisprudence de la médecine, de la chirurgie, et de la pharmacie en France, comprenant la médecine légale, la police médicale, la responsabilitié des médecins, chirurgiens, pharmaciens, etc, l'exposé et la discussion des lois, ordonnances, réglemens et instructions concernant l'art de guérir, appuyé des jugemens des cours et des tribunaux.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 10394 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12587
1836 HUFELAND, Christoph Wilhelm (1762 – 1836)
Enchiridion medicum, oder Anleitung zur medizinischen Praxis. Vermächtniss einer fünfzigjärigen erfahrung.
Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link. Translated into English by Caspar Bruchhausen and Robert Nelson as Manual of the practice of medicine: The result of fifty years' experience. London: Hippolyte Baii…
GMN 10352 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12544
1845 SIMON, Maximilien Isidore Amand
Déontologie médicale ou des devoirs et des droits des médecins dans l'état actuel de la civilisation.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 10349 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12541
1847 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION; HAYES, Isaac (1796 – 1879)
Proceedings of the National Medical Conventions, held in New York, May, 1846, and in Philadelphia, May, 1847.
The complete proceedings of the founding of the American Medical Association. This version also contains the text of the Code of Ethics written by Isaac Hayes and adopted by the AMA. In updated forms, this remains the…
GMN 10063 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12252
1848 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION; HAYES, Isaac (1796 – 1879)
Code of ethics of the American Medical Association. Adopted May 1847.
Heavily influenced by Percival's work, the AMA's code of ethics was written by Isaac Hayes. The first leaf of this 30-page pamphlet indicates that it was "Printed for Private Distribution by the Philadelphia Delegatio…
GMN 10056 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12245
1849 HOOKER, Worthington (1806 – 1867)
Physician and patient; or, a practical view of the mutual duties, relations and interests of the medical profession and the community.
"During this era of rampant sectarianism in medicine, doctors frequently became dishonest or abusive as they competed for patients. To deal with this situation, the American Medical Association adopted [in 1847] a cod…
GMN 10110 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12299
1855 DAVIS, Nathan Smith (1817 – 1904); BUTLER, Samuel Worcester (1823 – 1874)
History of the American Medical Association, from its organization up to January, 1855. To which is appended biographical notices, with portraits of the presidents of the association, and of the author
The first history of the American Medical Association, founded in 1847, written by one of its chief founders. Digital facsimile from Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 10103 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12292
1883 FLINT (ELDER), Austin (1812 – 1886)
Medical ethics and etiquette. The code of ethics adopted by the American Medical Association, with commentaries by Austin Flint.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 8133 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10309
1884 RAUCH, John Henry (1828 – 1894)
Medical education and the regulation of the practice of medicine in the United States and Canada. prepared by the Illinois State Board of Health, and published by permission of the board.
Rauch, Secretary of the Illinois State Board of Health, was responsible for compiling and publishing this detailed report. It was the most important and comprehensive summary of American, and Canadian medical educatio…
GMN 10114 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12303
1886 WITHINGTON, Charles Francis (1852 – 1917)
The relation of hospitals to medical education.
Withington, pp. 18-22, proposed Bills of Rights for subjects of experiments "to secure patients again any injustice from the votaries of science." Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 10350 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12542
1895 JOST, Adolf Lothar (1874 – 1908)
Das Recht auf den Tod. Sociale Studie.
This work is considered the starting point for a broad philosophical discussion on euthanasia in the German-speaking world. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 10353 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12545
1897 PAGEL, Julius Leopold (1851 – 1912)
Medicinische Deontologie.
GMN 1766 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3205
1902 MOLL, Albert (1862 – 1939)
Ärztliche Ethik: Die Pflichten des Arztes in allen Beziehungen seiner Thätigkeit.
See Andreas-Holger Maehle, "'God's ethicist': Albert Moll and his medical ethics in theory and practice," Medical History, 56 (2012) 217-236. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 10354 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12546
1905 MATHEWS, Joseph McDowell (1847 – 1928)
How to succeed in the practice of medicine.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 8713 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10891
1908 SURBLED, Georges (1855 – )
L'Honneur médical, manuel de déontologie élémentaire.
A treatise on medical ethics and the duties of the physician influenced by Christian religious beliefs. Translated into English by W.P. Grant as Medical etiquette (Handbook of elementary deontology). With a preface by…
GMN 13600 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15879
1916 AIKENS, Charlotte Albina (1868 – 1949)
Studies in ethics for nurses.
Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 8599 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10776
1924 JONES, William Henry Samuel (1876 – 1963)
The doctor’s oath, an essay in the history of medicine.
The Hippocratic Oath forms the basis of medical ethics. It was probably an ancient temple oath of the Asclepiadae, and not a genuine Hippocratic document. In the above work the various manuscripts of the Oath are enum…
GMN 1758 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3171
1927 PEABODY, Francis Weld (1881 – 1927)
The care of the patient.
Full text from depts.washington.edu at this link.
GMN 10355 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12547
1935 WORCESTER, Alfred (1855 – 1951)
The care of the aged, the dying and the dead.
Digital facsimile of the 2nd edition (1940) from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 10057 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12246
1937 CRONIN, Archibald Joseph (1896 – 1981)
The Citadel.
This novel was "groundbreaking with its treatment of the contentious theme of medical ethics. It has been credited with laying the foundation in Great Britain for the introduction of the NHS a decade later.[1] "For hi…
GMN 10198 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12387
1937 –1960 PERNKOPF, Eduard (1888 – 1955)
Topographische Anatomie des Menschen. Lehrbuch und Atlas der regionär-stratigraphischen Präparation. 4 vols. in 7. Vol. 1 in 2 pts: Brust un Brustgliedmasse, 1937; Vol. 2 in 2 pts: Bauch, Becken und Beckengliedmasse, 1941; Vol. 3: Der Hals, 1952; Vol. 4 in 2 pts: Topographische und stratigraphischen Anatomie des Kopfes, 1957, 1960.
Pernkopf's anatomy is remarkable for the intricacy of its detailed images and its "regional stratigraphic" approach, i.e. "multiple layers of dissection with an emphasis on fascia shown and reflected, approaching the …
GMN 10200 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12389
1947 MITSCHERLICH, Alexander (1908 – 1982); MIELKE, Fred (1922 – 1959)
Das Diktat der Menschenverachtung. Der Nürnberger Ärzteprozeß und seine Quellen.
English version: Doctors of infamy. The story of the Nazi medical crimes, translated from German by Heinz Norden. With statements of 3 American authorities identified with the Nuremberg medical trial and a note on med…
GMN 7892 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10065
1947 FISHBEIN, Morris (1889 – 1976)
A history of the American Medical Association 1847 to 1947.
GMN 8644 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10821
1948 –2017 WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (1947 – )
WMA Declaration of Geneva.
Modernized version of the Hippocratic Oath, promulgated in response to the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-geneva/ "Adopted by the 2nd General Assembly of the World Me…
GMN 10356 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12548
1959 JAKOBOVITS, Immanuel (1921 – 1999)
Jewish medical ethics: A comparative and historical study of the Jewish religious attitude to medicine and its practice.
GMN 8135 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10311
1962 KONOLD, Donald Enloe (1924 – )
A history of American medical ethics, 1847-1912.
The first history of medical ethids in the United States. Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 10357 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12549
1964 LAÍN ENTRALGO, Pedro (1908 – 2001)
La relación médico-enfermo: Historia y teoria.
A history of the doctor-patient relationship. Translated into English by Frances Partridge as Doctor and patient (London: Wiedenfeld & Nicolson, 1969). Digital facsimile of the Spanish edition from cervantes.virtual.c…
GMN 10358 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12550
1970 LAÍN ENTRALGO, Pedro (1908 – 2001)
La medicina Hipocrática.
GMN 6485.4 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7959
1970 RAMSEY, Robert Paul (1913 – 1988)
The Patient as person: Explorations in medical ethics.
Second edition with a new foreword by Margaret Farley and essays by Albert R. Jonsen and William F. May, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.
GMN 10059 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12248
![HIPPOCRATES, [Ἱπποκράτης; Hippocrates of Kos] (-460 – -370)](/media/portraits/50)
