An itinerant surgeon extracting stones from a woman's head; symbolising the removal of her 'folly' (insanity). Line engraving after N. Weydtmans after himself.

  • Weijdmans, Nicolaes Jansz, 1570-1642.
Reference:
21065i
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Description

The images of a surgeon (often itinerant) making an incision in a patient's head in order to extract 'stones' (implying madness in the individual) do not represent an actual operation, but are allegorical scenes refering to the subduction of 'folly' (madness) from the body. See further: W. Schupbach, A new look at The cure of folly, Medical history, 1978, vol. 22, pp. 267-281

Physical description

1 print : line engraving ; image 13.7 x 12.3 cm

Lettering

Loopt loopt met groot verblijden hier salmen twijf van lije snijden. H. Weijdmans inssen et fe.

References note

See further: J. Menden, Operations for stones in the head, Journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences, London 1969, vol. 24, p. 211

Reference

Wellcome Collection 21065i

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