Anatomia corporum humanorum

William Cowper, artist

circa 1666–1709

Anatomia corporum humanorum, 1750 (original 1698)

Where object was made: England, United Kingdom

Material/technique: printing; paper

Credit line: Clendening History of Medicine Library and Museum, University of Kansas Medical Center

Accession number: EL2020.047

Not on display

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When the English surgeon William Cowper published this volume, which translates to The Anatomy of Humane Bodies, he quickly rose to prominence and continued publishing widely on surgery, pathology, and physiology. Although recognized as a great anatomist—he was the first person to describe what is now known as “Cowper’s gland”—he is also famous for his involvement in a plagiarism scandal with Dutch contemporary Govard Bidloo. In 1685, Bidloo published Anatomi Humani Corporis, which included over 100 elaborate plates. When sales went poorly, Bidloo sold 300 copies of the plates to Cowper, who wrote accompanying text and published Anatomia corporum humanorum under his own name without reference or credit given to Bidloo.