Pernkopf, Eduard; Atlas Of Topographical And Applied Human Anatomy Vols 1 & 2 1963/1964
, WB SAUNDERS, 1963/1964 , HARD COVER
Overall Condition is: Very Good++ (Gift)
Vol I. Head and Neck, 1963, 356 pgs. Vol. II. Thorax, Abdomen and Extremities, 1964, 421 pages. General shelf wear, rubbed extremities. Vol. 2 has a little more edge wear, faded extremities, previous owners name on inner front board. Volume 1 has the deluxe leather spine and corners. Later editions state Prefaces and introductions in the book describe pictorially impressive drawings... and outstanding pieces of art . Dr Jonathan Ives, a bioethicist from the University of Bristol, agrees the atlas is amazingly detailed Pernkopf Topographic Anatomy of Man, is widely considered to be the best example of anatomical drawings in the world. It is richer in detail and more vivid in colour than any other. Skin, muscle, tendons, nerves, organs and bone are revealed in graphic detail. It's not for the faint-hearted. Pernkopf worked 18-hour days dissecting corpses, while a team of artists created images for his book. Dr Sabine Hildebrandt, from Harvard Medical School, says at least half of the 800 images in the atlas came from NAZI political prisoners. They included gay men and lesbians, gypsies, political dissidents and Jews. Dr Mackinnon says nothing else even begins to compare to the book's accuracy and detail, and it is particularly useful for complex surgeries because it helps her figure out which of the many small nerves that course through our body are potentially causing the pain . Last year, Rabbi Polak and medical historian and psychiatrist Professor Michael Grodin, prepared a Responsum (a scholarly answer based on Jewish medical ethics) on whether it is ethical to use the atlas based on Dr Mackinnon's experience. They concluded that most Jewish authorities would allow the use of the images to save human lives - under the condition the history of the atlas was made known, so the victims were afforded some of the dignity they are owed. Rabbi Polak, told the BBC: Look at Dr Mackinnon - she couldn't find a nerve and she's the greatest in her field. The patient told her 'I want my leg cut off if you can't find it' - no one wants that to happen. So she swallowed hard and asked them to bring Pernkopf's atlas. She found the nerve in minutes because of these illustrations. She asked me, as a moral thinker, about the situation. And I said to her, if this is going to heal this person and give them their life back, then there is no question that the atlas can be used. More than 60 years later, the atlas is still one of the best resources for visual information for detailed anatomical and surgical work, according to Dr Hildebrandt, who teaches anatomy. Those of us who have learned to 'see' with it use it whenever we have questions. In peripheral nerve surgery some surgeons find it to be a unique and irreplaceable source of information, she says. Pernkopf was arrested after the war and sacked from the university. He was held at an Allied prison of war camp for three years but was never charged with any crime. Following his release he returned to the university and continued his work on the atlas. Magnificent complex hand drawn color plates are signed Erich Lepier or Karl Endtresser or F. Wien. 40-120 parts of each plate are indentified with a line connecting the locations of the specific wording. All labeling is precise to and accurate with no crossing of lines. Hundreds of black & white illustrated images throughout. Additional images available upon request. These book are a beautiful specimen, gift quality, general shelf wear, Vol. I has previous owners bookplate on inner front board, Vol. II has previous owner name on front end paper, Vol. I has a little foxing on title page/top fore edge.
REF#:001097