Obstetric Tables: Comprising Graphic Illustrations, with Descriptions and Practical Remarks; Exhibiting on Dissected Plates Many Important Subjects in Midwifery.

'First American Edition, from the Fourth and Greatly Improved London Edition, Carefully Revised, and with Additional Notes and Plates'. 8vo. 1st American edition. Full leather light brown leather with black spine title plates. Edges rubbed and bumped. Leather splitting at top and bottom of joints. Rubbing to covers. Small abrasion to rear. Chipping to spine ends. Early p.o. bookplate, later presentation note, affixed to front endpapers, which also show a few ink and pencil notes. Mild toning to pages. All folding illustrations intact, with a couple of unobtrusive repairs. VG... The great 16th century anatomist Vesalius first used the technique of superimposing layers of illustration to show the relationship of external and internal anatomy. George Spratt, a 19th-century London obstetrician and printmaker, used this overlay technique to great effect in his Obstetric Tables. His detailed illustrations are often layered up to four or five times for the same image, giving explicit insight into prenatal development, birthing complications, and the use of forceps. First published in London in 1833, the book found a wide subscription audience and was soon reprinted.