The New Student's Reference Work/Cooper, Sir Astley

Cooper, Sir Astley, an English surgeon, was born at Norfolk, Eng., Aug; 23, 1768. He began the study of surgery in London when 17. Appointments at hospitals and professorships followed. His books made him famous. From 1804 to 1807 was published his work on Hernia; his great work on Dislocation and Fractures appeared in 1822. He was the first to attempt the tying of the carotid artery and the aorta, though he was not successful in either. He also removed a tumor from the head of George IV, who thereupon made him a baronet. The vice-presidency of universities, degrees, memberships and offices in scientific societies were showered upon him. Besides his fame as a surgeon and as a writer on surgery, he was very successful as a teacher, implanting knowledge in an easy and agreeable manner. He also made surgery, which before his time had in large measure been dangerous guesswork, a science. He died Feb. 12, 1841.