The Operative Treatment of Facial Palsy
Chicago: American Medical Association, 1932.
The Operative Treatment of Facial Palsy, is authored by Sir Charles Ballance, K.C.M.G., LL.D., F.R.C.S., one of the most important pioneers of facial nerve surgery, and Arthur B. Duel, M.D., F.A.C.S., a leading American otolaryngologist. Reprinted from The Archives of Otolaryngology (January 1932, Vol. 15), it offers an advanced and detailed account of early 20th-century surgical methods for restoring facial nerve function after trauma, paralysis, and congenital defects. The text covers nerve grafting techniques involving the hypoglossal, glossopharyngeal, spinal accessory, and other cranial nerves, including the introduction of nerve grafts into the fallopian canal—an early precursor to modern reconstructive microsurgery.
Lavishly illustrated with numerous anatomical drawings, postoperative case photographs (including pediatric cases), and diagrams of nerve graft insertion, the work documents groundbreaking clinical observations and operative results. Ballance and Duel provide case studies, procedural rationales, and long-term outcomes of their nerve anastomosis experiments, making this offprint a valuable artifact for historians of neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and reconstructive surgery. A printed notation at the top of the title page reads “COMPLIMENTS OF THE AUTHORS”, confirming this copy was distributed personally by Ballance and Duel.
Condition & Binding: Large folio offprint bound in simple board covers with a reinforced cloth spine, likely a later utilitarian binding meant for library or institutional storage. The boards show age-darkening and mottling, with a stain on the front pastedown. The spine cloth is intact but shows some waviness from age. Internally, the pages are clean, bright, and crisp, with only mild toning to edges. Plates and illustrations are well-preserved, including the multi-color anatomical diagrams. No loose pages. The title page bears a light pencil notation at the upper margin. Overall- good. Item #775
Price: $175.00