Book excerpt: Ambroise Paré (1510–1590) was a French surgeon who specialized in battlefield medicine, especially wound treatment. He was the official royal surgeon for the kings Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. A humane and dedicated physician, Paré was intensely concerned with the dissemination of knowledge about medicine. He contributed to the development of artificial limbs and also spawned several significant advancements in obstetrics. His medical achievements led Paré to be regarded as the “Father of Modern Surgery.” This edition, published in 1969, is the first English translation of Ten Books of Surgery, and it contains records of many of the most advanced medical practices of the time. Paré describes procedures for the treatment of battle wounds and gangrene, and also deals with ordinary ailments such as bone fractures, contusions, and kidney stones. Paré's work provides valuable insight into an age when the practice of medicine was moved towards the discipline and order of science but was still considerably affected by superstition.