Opera Medica…

Leyden: Daniel Elsevier & Abraham Wolfgang, 1679. First Edition. Sylvius was an early supporter of William Harvey’s theory of the circulation of the blood and the founder of the Iatrochemical School of Medicine, which explained and based the treatment of disease on chemical action. The Dutch physician, scientist, and professor at the University of Leyden “was the first to distinguish between two kinds of glands: conglomerate (made up of a number of smaller units, the excretory ducts of which combine to form ducts of progressively higher order) and conglobate (forming a rounded mass, or clump). He also discovered (1641) the deep cleft (Sylvian fissure) separating the temporal (lower), frontal, and parietal (top rear) lobes of the brain.” (Encycl. Britan.) “Tuberculosis was known to the ancients only in its advanced form, and little progress was made in the knowledge of the condition until the time of Sylvius. He asserted that tubercles are often to be found in the lung and that they softened and suppurated to form cavities.” (Garrison & Morton) Sylvius was a pioneer of bedside teaching and is also credited with establishing the first university chemical laboratory. Willems and Berghman mention a portrait which is not present here. Bib. Osleriana 4065. Garrison & Morton (4th Edn.) 2321. Willems 1572. Rahir 1729. Berghman 604. cfWaller 9428-29 (later edns.). 4to. pp. 4 p.l., 934, [26]index. title in red & black with woodcut printer’s device. text in double columns. contemporary vellum, overlapping fore-edges (vellum soiled – stains to rear cover, some foxing, scoring in first few chapters, small rubberstamp on title erased, staining to outer margin in last gatherings). elala5667