Samuel David Gross (1805–1884) (Fig. 1), a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Jeff erson Medical College in Philadelphia, wrote his fi rst book [1] in 1828, just two years after he received his M.D. degree. Th e book, which was the fi rst American treatise on orthopedic pathology and surgery, was an instant success, but Gross’s attempt to establish a surgical practice was a failu...