Page:The growth of medicine from the earliest times to about 1800.djvu/579



REFORMS INSTITUTED BY THE ITALIAN SURGEON MAGATI IN THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS.—FINAL ENDING OF THE FEUD BETWEEN THE SURGEONS AND THE PHYSICIANS OF PARIS.—REVIVAL OF INTEREST IN THE SCIENCE OF OBSTETRICS

Reforms Instituted by Magati.—Cesare Magati, who was born in 1579 at Scandiano, in the Duchy of Règgio, studied medicine at the University of Bologna and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from that institution in 1597. Immediately afterward he went to Rome and devoted himself particularly to the study of anatomy and surgery. Then, upon his return to his native land, he quickly acquired so great a reputation as a surgeon that the Duke of Bentivoglio, who was a man of enlightened views and ambitious to promote in every possible way the best interests of the University of Ferrara, offered Magati the Chair of Surgery in that institution. The offer was accepted in 1612, and Magati continued to hold the position for several years, his services being highly appreciated both by the authorities of the university and by the students. But, when his health began to break down,—he was affected with stone in the bladder,—he decided that his best course was to resign his professorship, retire from active practice, and become a Capuchin monk. When he took this step he obtained permission from the head of the Chapter to which he belonged, to resume in a limited measure the surgical work which he was so well fitted to do. But in the year 1647 his sufferings became so acute that he was obliged to