Milestones of Science Books

WILLIS, Thomas.

Pharmaceutice rationalis sive diatriba de medicamentorum operationibus in humano corpore.

Oxford: E Theatro Sheldoniano, 1674.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #004096

4to (211 x 148 mm). [32], 330, [10] pp. Text in Latin with quotations and examples in Greek. Title page with large engraved vignette showing the Sheldonian Theatre, 6 folding engraved plates, woodcut headpieces and initials, general index at the end. Signatures: [a]-d⁴ A-Z⁴ Aa-Tt⁴ Uu². Bound in contemporary blind-ruled calf, spine with 4 raised bands and black morocco label lettered in gilt, marbled edges, original endpapers (light chipping of spine ends, joints partly split, corners slightly bumped and worn). Text fresh and crisp throughout, a few short marginal tears, last several leaves with small worm-track in the blank fore-margin, plate II working loose, plate IV bound before plate III and with longer clean tear at foot into the image (no loss); text corrections on p.13 an 234 in contemporary ink. Provenance: John Baphore de Rosemond (contemporary signature on flyleaf); Selbourne Library (small stamps on verso of dedication leaf and lower margin G2). A very fine, crisp copy in unrestored original binding. ----

RARE FIRST EDITION, and one of three versions of Willis's book published simultaneously: A quarto version with the imprint of the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford [such as the present copy], another quarto version with the London imprint of Robert Scott added, and a duodecimo edition" (Garrison-Morton-Norman). Wing lists the 4to edition first, but priority is unclear. A continuation (pars secunda) was published in Oxford the following year. Garrison-Morton-Norman and Wind list these parts separately.
"Willis's last work deals with the anatomy and physiology of the thoracic and abdominal organs, and contains the first description of the superficial lymphatics of the lungs, the first clinical and pathological account of emphysema, and a clear and accurate description of pertussis (whooping-cough). The book also contains the first distinction between diabetes mellitus, characterized by glycosuria, from diabetes insipidus, in which sugar is not present in the urine. Willis noted that psychogenic factors, such as grief or sadness, could bring on diabetes" (Garrison-Morton-Norman).
ESTC R1774; Norman 2248 (both parts), NLM/Krivatsy 13035; Garrison-Morton-Norman 3926; Wing W-2844. - Visit our website to see more images!

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