Bilguer, John Ulric De

, a surgeon, born at Coire in Swisserland, in 1720, studied at Strasburgh and Paris, and afterwards served in the Prussian army, and became surgeon-general. He received a doctor’s degree at Halle in 1761, and was admitted a member of various learned societies and to these honours the emperor of Germany added titles of nobility, of which, however, Bilguer never made any use. His fame abroad, as well as in this country, principally rests on his famous inaugural thesis, entitled, “Dissertatio inauguralis medico-chirurgica de membrorum Amputatione rarissime administranda aut quasi abroganda,” Berlin, 1761,4to. This Tissot translated into French, and enriched it with notes, under the title “Dissertation sur l‘inutilite de l’Amputation,” Paris, 1764, 12mo; from the Latin it was translated into English, 1761. The author’s object is to prove how very seldom amputation can be necessary, particularly in the case of gun-shot wounds received in battle. The first able answer to this mistaken effort of humanity was by M. Martiniere, principal surgeon to the French king; our eminent surgeon Pott has likewise shewn its danger; but in 1780 Bilguer’s doctrine found a supporter in Dr. Kirkland of Edinburgh, in his “Thoughts on Amputation.” | Bilguer published also, in German, “Instructions for the practice of Surgery in army-hospitals,” Leipsic, 1763; “Advice to Hypochondriacs,” &c. He died in 1796. ¹