International Federation of Surgical Colleges and International Society of Surgery

Excerpt

History is a mirror of civilization; and like all mirrors, its image can be exact or incomplete, idealized or imperfect. The celebratory book, A Century of International Progress and Tradition in Surgery [1], is a successful record of the hundred years of existence of the International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC) which, in fact, coincides with the advances of twentieth century surgery worldwide. Its 388 pages are replete with personalities, events, techniques, disputes, joys, disappointments, discoveries, and above all the advances of surgery. The World Journal of Surgery, itself an initiative of ISS/SIC and IFSC surgeons, is rendering a valuable service in supplementing the above record with periodic “Highlights” [2, 3, 4], which add both facts and personal touches to the official record. …