Various collaborators have written the 278 pages of text, which appears mainly as step by step legends accompanying the illustrations. Each operative procedure is preceded by a few introductory remarks concerning the technic, indications and pertinent points. The subjects included are treatment of tonsillar epitheliomas with radium, by Pierquin and Richard; thyroidectomy, and resection and drainage of hip joint, by Cauchoix; bilateral herniorrhaphy (single transverse incision), by Lavarde; esophagogastric resection and supradiaphragmatic vagotomy, by Lascaux and Perrotin, and diaphragmatic hernia, splenectomy and temporary iliac anus, by Quénu.
In the presentation of these various procedures such usually neglected details as draping and venoclysis are given their proper importance. In the section on thyroid, local infiltration anesthesia is stressed. Mobilization of the lower flap is deemed essential. The preference is to retract the strap muscles rather than sever them. Postoperative drainage after the removal of both lobes of the gland is advocated.