The subject of this book, James Hill (1703-1776), was born into a Scotland which had been riven for half a century with political and economic conflicts, which had direct effects on his own family. King Charles II was restored to the UK throne in 1660 and a period of expansion of the arts science and trade followed in England. In Scotland, the period was quite different. Charles was the head of an Episcopalian church and was determined that Presbyterian Scotland should return to this form of worship. There followed years of persecution and mutual intolerance.

James received his medical education as an apprentice to an Edinburgh surgeon, George Young who was closely involved in the Scottish Enlightenment. His apprenticeship was followed by two years at sea. He then returned to his home region of Dumfries and started to practice surgery in 1732, continuing there until 1776. As this book shows, he achieved a grand reputation as a surgeon, and was respected not only locally, but also in neighbouring counties and the capital. His greatest contribution was in the treatment of head injuries, treating 18 cases, of which only three died. Two of these had untreatable injuries and the third refused surgery.

The book notes that, despite James Hill’s close relationship to the harshness of religious conflicts, this does not seem to have been a major influence on him. On the other hand, the Enlightenment was clearly important given his attitude to prefer his own observations to the teachings of past authorities. His reputation persisted for a century after his death, but has since gradually faded, and, as such, this book documents the contribution of a most important surgeon in the management of cranial trauma.