The Human Frame… a Knowledge of Which Is the Very Foundation of Medical Science

There is not a physician, or surgeon, who can conscientiously discharge his duty to his patient or to himself, who does not occasionally, I ought to say, who does not frequently, inspect the human frame; a knowledge of which is the very foundation of medical science, and a guide to us in the distribution of life and health to our fellow-creatures. Paxton, a British surgeon, is best known for his influential anatomical textbook An Introduction to the Study of Human Anatomy (1831, 1844). Admitted as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1810 and later awarded an M.D. from the University of St Andrews in 1845, Paxton began his career as an army surgeon before establishing successful practices in Long Buckley, Oxford, and later Rugby. He also served as assistant-surgeon to the Oxfordshire militia. A skilled educator and writer, Paxton published several well-received medical works, including The Medical Friend (1843) and Living Streams (1855), and edited William Paley's Natural Theology. Known for combining anatomical precision with clear illustration and moral insight, Paxton was regarded as both a devoted physician and a man of deep religious conviction. He died at Ledwell House, Oxfordshire, in 1860 (Dictionary of National Biography 1895). I believe both James Paxton and Matthew Baillie would have been avid readers of Clinical Anatomy. This first issue of 2026 contains interesting articles, including historical, educational, and original papers with relevance to the clinical anatomist. As always, we welcome comments from our readers on how to improve our Journal.