John Bland-Sutton — Ligaments: Their Nature and Morphology
London, H.K Lewis, 1902. Cloth. Work on ligaments written by eminent surgeon John Sutton-Bland, containing inscription to anatomist and controversial figure Arthur Keith Ink inscription on the half title addressed to anatomist and anthropologist Arthur Keith 'with the author's best wishes', dated 1902. In the third edition of this illustrated work, surgeon John Bland-Sutton discusses the nature of tendons and ligaments before examining the ligaments in the knee, ankle, pectoral girdle, pelvis, larynx and vertebrae column. Sutton was an eminent figure in medicine at the time, holding the position of President of the Royal Society of Medicine between 1920 and 1922 before becoming president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 1923 to 1925. Interestingly, Arthur Keith won the prestigious Struther's prize at Aberdeen university for his demonstration of ligaments in humans and other apes in 1893, being made a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons the following year. Keith defended Eurocentric views of human evolution, and was a proponent of the idea of group selection which posits that natural selection occurs at the level of the group, rather than the individual or gene. This notion of group selection undergirded his support of scientific racism, a view shared by several other intellectuals and writers of the 1920s. Some text underlined in pencil by previous owner, although restricted to first thirty pages. Sixteen pages of adverts to the rear. In the original cloth binding. Generally smart, with marks and rubbing on front and rear boards. Light rubbing and fading to the spine, predominantly at the head and the tail, and some light wear to the extremities. Front hinge is starting but firm. Internally firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean with the occasional spot, generally limited to the first and last few pages. Some text underlined in pencil by prior owner but this is restricted to first thirty pages. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .
