Sir James Paget's Lectures on Surgical Pathology, published in 1853, w
as based on Lectures given at the Royal College of Surgeons of England
in the previous six years. It makes use of the pathological material
collected by John Hunter in the late eighteenth century which was hous
ed in the College. It expands the principles of pathophysiology enunci
ated by Hunter using microscopic observations. The first half of the b
ook covers mainly inflammation and repair; the second is involved in a
description of tumours with particular emphasis on the difference bet
ween benign and malignant growths. This book indicates a concept of pa
thology before the realization of the role of infectious organisms. Ho
wever, there is some inkling of the contagious nature of syphilis and
variola following on Hunter's work. The concept, current at that time,
that tuberculosis was related to cancer is expressed. This work acts
as a bridge between the pathology of John Hunter and that of the prese
nt time.