[Words and action of medical instruction: surgical lectures of Antonio Scarpa].

Antonio Scarpa (1752-1832) was chairman of anatomy and surgery at the university of Pavia for thirty years since 1783. The study of the manuscripts containing his surgical lectures, collected by his pupils, is the basis for the knowledge of the method of teaching in its twofold dimension of the theoretical matter and of the practical demonstration. Starting from the analysis of one of these manuscripts, entitled "Lezioni di operazioni chirurgiche del Cav. Prof. Antonio Scarpa" the value of these collections of notes is discussed and their significance as a textbook for the students is emphasized. The survey of every single lecture demonstrates that the theoretical exposition immediately preceded the operative procedure on the corpse. Finally the qualities expected by Scarpa in the teachers and the students for a satisfactory education in surgery are considered. Fulfilling his mastership Scarpa struggled to convey to the pupils the method learned when he himself was a student. He was therefore considered the head of the anatomy and surgery school in Pavia.