Milestones of Science Books

CESALPINO, Andrea (CAESALPINUS, Andreas).

Katoptron sive speculum artis medicae Hippocraticum: spectandos, dignoscendos curandosque exhibens universos. .

Frankfurt: M. Becker & L. Zetzener, 1605.

2nd Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002655

8vo (154 x 99 mm). [16], 663 [1] pp. Printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials and ornaments in text. Bound in contemporary original vellum, spine and boards with blind ruling, spine with faint ink lettering (boards and edges soiled, corners slightly bumped). Light browning to text, a few pages with contemporary marginals and markings in red ink, paper flaw to upper margin of leaf Z1 affecting healines. Fine copy. ----

Osler 904; NLM/Krivatsy 2343; Luigi Fontana: The almost unknown original edition of the Ars Medica. In: Minerva Medica, vol. 63, Nov. 1972; Walter Pagel: William Harvey's Biological Ideas..., Karger Publ., 1967. VERY RARE SECOND EDITION, with the first description of the blood circulation. This is the last and most complete work of Cesalpino, first published in 1602 under the title Ars Medica and reprinted several times under different titles. All editions are quite rare. The treaty covers a wide range of diseases that affect the heart, lungs, head, gynecological disorders, with observations on syphilis and with extensive information about drugs. The author's main interest, however, lies in the admirably clear and conclusive enunciation of his findings on blood circulation - many years before Harvey. "In the Ars Medica Cesalpino has formulated the most comprehensive, clear and conclusive statement on the small and, connected with it, great movement." (Fontana). "Cesalpino remains an important precursor of Harvey, and perhaps most important of all." (Pagel).

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