A pioneer of urologic surgery from a small town in Ontario, Canada: A tribute to Abraham Groves (1847-1935)

Authors

  • Yves Caumartin Department of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Urology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON
  • Vivian C. McAlister Department of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Urology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON
  • Patrick P.W. Luke Department of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Urology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.957

Abstract

Background: Abraham Groves worked as a general practitioner
and surgeon in the small town of Fergus, Ontario, Canada. Several
priority claims have been attributed to Groves’ life in surgery,
including aseptic surgery (1874), appendectomy (1883) and the
use of surgical gloves (1885). He was also an early practitioner of
urological surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe and objectively
assess his contributions as a pioneer in urological surgery.

Methods: A systematic search of contemporary journals was made
for articles by or about Groves. These articles and his 1934 autobiography
were reviewed. The information was assessed not only
for priority, but also for the development of organized surgical
principles and thought.

Results: Groves published frequently throughout his career; up to
this point, 36 papers have been identified. Groves’ claims are verifiable
for aseptic surgery, which were the result of logical surgical
thought and was practiced throughout his career. Contemporary
publications support his early use of suprapubic lithotomy (1875),
prostatotomy (1887), bladder repair (1892), urethral repair (1903),
renal decapsulation (1905) and prostatectomy (1911).

Conclusions: Despite his isolation, Abraham Groves independently
developed a full range of surgical techniques and principles
relevant to modern-day urology. His impact was reduced by the
nature of the environment in which he worked and by the limited
circulation of the journals in which he chose to publish.

Contexte : Abraham Groves était omnipraticien et chirurgien dans
la petite ville de Fergus, en Ontario. Plusieurs percées importantes
lui ont été attribuées, comme la chirurgie en asepsie (1874),
l’appendicectomie (1883) et l’emploi de gants chirurgicaux (1885).
Il a aussi été un pionnier de la chirurgie urologique.
Objectif : Le présent article vise à décrire et évaluer de façon

objective les contributions d’Abraham Groves dans l’évolution de
la chirurgie urologique.

Méthodologie : Une recherche systématique des revues médicales
de l’époque a permis de dégager des articles signés par Groves ou
portant sur ses travaux. On a ensuite passé en revue ces articles
et son autobiographie, datant de 1934. On cherchait dans ces
documents non seulement des preuves de ses percées sur le plan
scientifique mais aussi l’élaboration de principes et théories structurés
en chirurgie.

Résultats : Groves a publié de nombreux articles; jusqu’à présent,
nous en avons trouvé 36. Il a été possible de confirmer les découvertes
de Groves concernant la chirurgie en asepsie, technique
découlant de la logique scientifique et qu’il a pratiquée durant
toute sa carrière. Des articles de l’époque confirment son utilisation
de la lithotomie sus-pubienne (1875), de la prostatotomie (1887),
de la réparation vésicale (1892), de la réparation urétrale (1903),
de la décapsulation rénale (1905) et de la prostatectomie (1911).

Conclusions : En dépit de son isolement, Abraham Groves a
élaboré de façon indépendante une gamme de techniques chirurgicales
et de principes toujours pertinents en urologie de nos jours.
Son influence a été limitée par la nature de son environnement
professionnel et par la circulation limitée des périodiques dans
lesquels il a choisi de publier.

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Author Biographies

Yves Caumartin, Department of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Urology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON

Vivian C. McAlister, Department of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Urology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON

Patrick P.W. Luke, Department of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Urology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON

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How to Cite

Caumartin, Y., McAlister, V. C., & Luke, P. P. (2013). A pioneer of urologic surgery from a small town in Ontario, Canada: A tribute to Abraham Groves (1847-1935). Canadian Urological Association Journal, 4(6), 407–12. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.957

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Original Research