William of Saliceto

William of Saliceto (or Guglielmo da Saliceto) (1210 – 1277) was a surgeon and cleric in Lombardy who broke tradition with Galen by claiming that pus formation was bad for wounds and for the patient. He was a professor at the University of Bologna. In 1275 he wrote "Chirurgia" which promoted the use of a surgical knife over cauterizing. He also was the author of "Summa conservationis et curationis" on hygiene and therapy. Lanfranc of Milan was a pupil who brought William's methods into France. William gave lectures on the importance of regular bathing for infants, and special care for the hygiene of pregnant women.

External links

* [http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/sepsis.html Of blood, inflammation and gunshot wounds:] the history of the control of sepsis, AJ Thurston.

References

*"The Surgery of William of Saliceto", English translation by Leonard D. Rosenman ISBN 1-4010-8572-5.
*"Copernicus", Ivan Crowe ISBN 0-7524-2553-6.
*"Medicine and the Italian Universities: 1250-1600," Nancy G. Siraisi.