| Bell of the ball | Damien Ihrig, MA, MLIS
Curator, John Martin Rare Book Room
 Welcome to April, folks, also known as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. This issue is dedicated to a friend of mine who has survived not one but two bouts of testicular cancer.
In his honor, this month, we present A treatise on the hydrocele, on sarcocele, or cancer, and other diseases of the testes (1791) by the famous 18th-century Scottish surgeon Benjamin Bell (1749–1806). Bell, seen here posing for his Hinge profile, wrote several well-known works, including his most famous work, A system of surgery (1783–1788).
A system of surgery is a six-volume set printed from 1783 to 1788. This comprehensive work, although lacking in specific data that many had come to expect by then, became a bestseller throughout Europe and America, solidifying his reputation as a leading scientific surgeon. His treatise on sexually transmitted infections was groundbreaking, suggesting that syphilis and gonorrhea were distinct diseases—a hypothesis that would later be accepted by mainstream medicine.
Not satisfied with only doing surgery, medicine, writing books, teaching, and assuming leadership positions in several medical organizations, Bell also had a passion for agriculture. Farming was in his family and he felt strongly about carrying on the tradition. He especially enjoyed the intellectual aspects of his side hustle and wrote many pieces about the economy of agriculture.
Bell was chummy with many of the leading physicians and surgeons of the day, including his idols Alexander Monro secundus, John Hunter, and Percivall Pott. His legacy includes not only a great number of written works on a potpourri of topics and his lasting rational approach to surgery but also his children and grandchildren, who carried on his work. Including one who just happened to be an inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle.
Read below to learn more about our copy of A treatise on the hydrocele, on sarcocele, or cancer, and other diseases of the testes and the life and times of Benjamin Bell.
Stay healthy, happy reading, and don't forget those regular self-exams!
Hours
The JMRBR is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and by appointment on Friday. For more information, please contact me at damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154. | | 
Events
 Materia medica, formularies, pharmacopoeia, and home remedies: recipes in the history of medicine
Open House
Thursday, April 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
John Martin Rare Book Room
The annual John Martin Rare Book Room (JMRBR) open house will be on Thursday, April 24, 2025. All are invited to drop in from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to tour the space and explore staples of the JMRBR collection. There will also be special materials on display, such as John Gerard’s The herball and Hieronymus Brunschwig’s A most excellent and perfecte homish apothecarye, that will highlight historical examples of medicinal recipes, apothecaries, home remedies, poisons, and herbal medicine.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Damien Ihrig in advance at 319-335-9154 or damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu.
| | | | BELL, BENJAMIN (1749–1806). A treatise on the hydrocele, on sarcocele, or cancer, and other diseases of the testes. Printed in Edinburgh by Bell & Bradfute etc., 1794. Two copies: 23 and 22 cm tall.
Benjamin Bell is remembered as the father of the Edinburgh school of surgery and a pioneer of scientific surgical practices. He was born on Sept. 6, 1749, in Dumfries, Scotland, the eldest surviving child in a bustling family of 15. His father, George Bell, was a farmer and businessman whose modest wealth allowed Bell to pursue his dreams. Young Bell's early education at Dumfries Grammar School laid the foundation for his future endeavors.
As a teenager, Bell apprenticed with James Hill, a surgeon in Dumfries. In 1766, he moved to Edinburgh to study medicine at the prestigious University of Edinburgh. There, he was mentored by some of the most inspiring medical teachers of the day, including Alexander Monro secundus, Joseph Black, and John Hope. By 1767, Benjamin had secured a position as a dresser in the surgical wards of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and two years later, he became a surgeons' clerk.
Eager to expand his knowledge, Bell traveled to London and Paris, where he observed and learned from leading surgeons like John Hunter and Percivall Pott. He was particularly influenced by a lecture given by Joseph Priestley at the Royal Society, which sparked his interest in the scientific aspects of surgery.
Upon his return to Edinburgh, Bell quickly established himself as a prominent surgeon. At just 24 years old, he was elected one of four attendant surgeons to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, a position he held for an impressive 18 years. His innovative approach to surgery, encapsulated in his adage 'save skin,' led to improved wound healing rates in operations like mastectomy and limb amputation. He was also a pioneer in advocating for routine pain relief in surgery, promoting the use of opium to alleviate post-operative pain.
Bell passed away at his home in 1806, but his legacy lived on through his works and descendants. | | | Along with his many publications, he was a founding member of several medical societies, including the Aesculapian Club and the Harveian Society of Edinburgh. Several of his descendants also became prominent surgeons in Edinburgh. This includes his great-grandson, Joseph Bell (1837–1911), whose diagnostic skill was legendary. Joseph Bell was a master of observing the minutest of details and puzzling out a patient's illness. This inspired his student and fellow Scot, Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, to write his famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Although Bell included several chapters on testicular disease in Volume I of his System of surgery, he received requests to expand on the topic. He also wanted to update his work to reflect the latest research. A treatise on the hydrocele, on sarcocele, or cancer, and other diseases of the testes is a detailed guide about the anatomy, surgeries, and pathology related to the testes.
The book includes illustrations of surgical instruments (see banner above—yikes!) but no procedures, a frequent complaint of Bell's books. However, it demonstrates Bell's education and deep understanding of medical research from Britain, Europe, and America. Written in a clear and easy-to-understand style, it has many references to other studies and cases.
Appropriately enough, we have two copies of A treatise..., both providing a peek into book production at this time. The first has its original paper covers with many of the textblock sections unopened. Although originally covered in brown leather over paper boards, the other copy is in much worse shape. The leather has been removed from a substantial portion of the covers, the spine is almost entirely missing, and the front board has detached. Our crack Conservation and Collections Care team has stabilized both books with boxes, though, so as long as we're careful, we should be able to keep using them for centuries to come.
Contact me to take a look at this book or any others from this or past newsletters: damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154. | | | |
