Lorenz Heister's handbook of surgery in the Franciscan monastery in Pazin.

The oldest library in Istria (Croatia) is located in the Franciscan Monastery of Pazin, with a rich fund of worthy old books. Our attention was attracted by the book "Chirurgie" written by the German physician, surgeon and anatomist Lorenz Heister in the first half of the 18th century. This worthy book is relatively scanty known in Croatian history of surgery. By studying the contents of the book written in the 18th century, numerous surgical instruments, as well as surgical operations may be found, many of them being used even today with little modifications. Among the instruments different types of pincers, needles, scissors, knives, saws, hammers, chisels and others can be found. The description of different surgical procedures reveals great advancement in the surgical technique. The book was very popular in Europe for a century.