This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
Felix Würtz, of Basel, a surgeon of more than ordinary gifts, worthy of mention with Ambroise Paré, friend of Conrad Gesner, the Pliny of Germany and Paracelsus the iconoclast, wrote the most remarkable treatise on children that appeared in the sixteenth century. It is, indeed, the best book of its kind up to that time, and few pediatric writings of even later date compare with it in charm and simplicity of diction or in sound common sense.
His father was a surgeon and young Felix was sent to Nuremberg to study; after that he returned to devote his days to the people of his native city.
He is best known for his book on surgery, which he called "Practica der Wundartzney, darin allerlei schädliche Missbräuche des Wundartzes abgeschaft wurden, etc." This appeared in 1563 and had a deservedly marked success. There were numerous editions in German and it was translated