John Hunter Autograph Manuscript Signed. One page, 7.25" x 8" (sight), Leicester Square; August 7, 1788. This letter to an unknown correspondent reads in full: "I have had many opportunities of seeing good effects from the application of Mr. Jones’s stays & machine, in cases of curvatures of the Back bone; they will not however be proper in all cases, and even in those for which they are particularly adapted, great attention is necessary in the mode of using them. I consider Mr. Jones to be a very good judge both of the cases in which they will be proper, and the mode of applying them, and have reason to believe that for his own sake – He would not chuse to apply them, unless he had considerable hopes of their proving usefull." Boldly signed, "John Hunter." Matted and framed with a photogravure by Annan & Sons and a typed caption to an overall size of 18.75" x 15.5". Not examined outside of the frame. John Hunter (1728-1793) was a Scottish surgeon and anatomist. He is best known as the founder of scientific surgery, advocating for an experimental basis to surgery and use of the scientific method. Brother of William Hunter, the famous physician and obstetrician, John would study under William Cheselden and Percivall Pott before becoming one of the most well-known surgeons of the eighteenth century. He formed his own teaching museum based off his collection of over thirteen thousand animal, plant and human specimens. This collection would form the basis of the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons in 1799, which is still open today. He was also responsible for the theft and exhibition of Charles Byrne’s skeleton. Condition: Lightly rubbed with smoothed folds. Two small areas of loss affecting two words, though still legible. Frame is rubbed with some scratches, especially at the corners. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved