G uy de C hauliac: pre‐eminent surgeon of the M iddle A ges

G uy de C hauliac (c1300–1368) trained in T oulouse and the U niversity of M ontpellier from where he achieved the highest possible degree of Master of medicine. He undertook fellowships in B ologna (anatomical dissection) and P aris (surgery) and was qualified as a physician not a Barber Surgeon. He took H oly O rders and was appointed as physician to three A vignon‐based P opes. He survived an epidemic of the B lack D eath (1348–1350), suffering an axillary bubo. His book C hirugia M agna was written in medieval L atin in 1363, then circulated in manuscript form before its first printing in 1478. There were 70 editions as it became the most influential surgical text for over 200 years, particularly in F rance, spanning the period from the late 14th century until P aré (1510–1590). He divided surgery into swellings, wounds, ulcers, fractures and dislocations, and special diseases. Well researched and referenced, based on evidence and experience, he succeeded in incorporating antiquarian and contemporary thinking from F rench, A rabian, I talian ( B ologna), E gyptian and G reek scholars about anatomy, surgical disease and treatment. He was a strong advocate for evaluating outcomes, knowing when not to operate, professionalism and the non‐technical competencies. His framework of professionalism was based on four domains: being learned, expert, ingenious and adaptable. The surgical aspirants and leaders of the following two centuries recognized the academic, professional and practical value of his teaching through their reference to and use of C hirugia M agna. The C owlishaw collection in the R oyal Australasian C ollege of S urgeons' library contains four F rench copies, under the title L a G rande C hirugie .