Abstract

An introduction to the first records of fracture treatment techniques can be added to the chapter on the history of Estonian orthopaedic surgery. The German-language manuscript of P.E. Wilde’s popular-scientific medical manual „Arsti ramat…“ (1771) was translated into Estonian by the litarary man and minister A. W. Hupel. P. E. Wilde’s book was intended for the countryfolk, who lived in horrible conditions, as well as for rural physicians. The purpose of the book was to introduce to the readers a variety of different diseases as well as their possible treatment methods. The chapter on fractures contains information about the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to common fractures and dislocations, including the principles of reduction and splinting. The word stems of anatomical terms have survived the test of time and have been used in their adapted forms to this very day. P.E. Wilde and A. W. Hupel should be considered the creators of Estonian- language popular-medical (including orthopaedic).„Arsti ramat“ remained the sole popular-medical writing in the Estonian language for a long time.