Pieter Van Foreest: The Physician as Writer on Surgery.

The Dutch physician Pieter Van Foreest (1520-97) included nine books of surgical observations among his large series of case-histories. Although he demanded that all physicians should have a knowledge of surgery, his writings show the limitations of his approach as well as the overlap between physicians and surgeons. Certain conditions were treated by both types of practitioner, but Foreest left invasive and manipulative side treatments to surgeons, while claiming the right as a physician to organise the overall treatment of the patient.