1770–1779

1770 CE

#1772

A chronological history of the weather and seasons and of the prevailing diseases in Dublin. With their various periods, successions, and revolutions, during the space of forty years. With a comparative view of the difference of the Irish climate and diseases, and those of England and other countries ...

Rutty kept continuous records of weather and diseases in Dublin from 1724-64. On page 75 of this work is the first clear description of relapsing fever. Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

1770 CE

#4437

An account of a case in which the upper head of the os humeri was sawed off, a large portion of the bone afterwards exfoliated, and yet the entire motion of the limb was preserved.

First recorded excision of the head of the humerus.

1770 CE

#12707

Directions for bringing over seeds and plants from the East-Indies and other distant countries in a state of vegetation: Together with a catalogue of such foreign plants as are worthy of being encouraged in our American colonies, for the purposes of medicine, agriculture, and commerce. To which is added the figure and botanical description of a new sensitive plant, called Dionaea muscipula: or, Venus's Fly-Trap.

On p. 34 Ellis published with a separate part title, A botanical description of the Dionaea Muscipula, or Venus's Fly-Trap. A newly-discovered sensitive plant: In a letter to Sir Charles Linnaeus, Knight of the Polar …

1770 CE

#14346

Élements de l'art vétériniare. Essai sur les appareils et sur les bandages propres aux quadrupèdes. A l'usage des élèves des Écoles Royales Vétérinaires.

This work includes 21 folding plates of devices and bandages.

1770 CE

#9913

Histoire des maladies de S. Domingue. 3 vols. Title of vol. 3: Traité ou abregé des plantes usuelles de S. Dominique.

Posthmously published; vol. 1 contains a life of the author. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1770 CE

#12733

Lectures on the materia medica: Containing the natural history of drugs, their virtues and doses: Also directions for the study of the materia medica; and an appendix on the method of prescribing. Published from the manuscript of the late Dr. Charles Alston...by John Hope. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1770 CE

#8132

Observations on the duties and offices of a physician; and on the method of prosecuting enquiries in philosophy.

"The first philosophical, secular medical ethics in the English language" (Lawrence, Paul. "(John Gregory." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.). "Gregory divided the practice of medicine into four parts, or bran…

1770 CE

#5336.2

Sur un ver trouvé sous la conjunctive, à Maribou, isle Saint-Domingue.

First description of the worm Loa loa. Mongin was a French surgeon working in the West Indies. English translation in Kean (No. 2268.1).

1770 CE

#9204

Syllabus of a course of lectures on chemistry.

Rush inaugurated the first regular course of lectures on chemistry taught in America, at the College of Philadelphia. Includes much on pharmaceutical chemistry. Facsimile reprint with an introduction by L. H. Butterfi…

1770 CE–1773 CE

#437.1

Histoire de l’anatomie et de la chirurgie. 6 vols.

A biobibliographical survey to 1755, including dentistry.

1771 CE

#863

1. Experiments on the blood, with some remarks on its morbid appearances (pp. 368-83). 2. On the degree of heat which coagulates the lymph, and the serum of the blood; with an inquiry into the causes of the inflammatory crust, or size, as it is called (pp. 384-97). 3. Further remarks on the properties of the coagulable lymph, on the stopping of haemorrhages, and on the effects of cold upon the blood (pp. 398-413).

In papers 2 and 3 of this set of 3 contiguously published papers Hewson was the first to describe fibrinogen. "Before Hewson, although the fibrin mesh had been recognised and admired from as far back as Plato, it was …

1771 CE

#11615

A catalogue of the animals of North America: Containing, an enumeration of the known quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, crustaceous and testaceous animals ... to which are added short directions for collecting, preserving, and transporting, all kinds of natural history curiosities.

Largely based on specimens he had access to from the British collections of Thomas Pennant and Anna Blackburne, this was Forster's attempt to systemize on the Linnean model the fragmented field of natural history stud…

1771 CE

#4489

A dissertation on the gout, and all chronic diseases, jointly considered, as proceeding from the same causes; what those causes are; and a rational and natural method of cure proposed.

This book excited great attention and ran through eight editions in one year. Cadogan’s advice on moderate exercise and moderation in drinking as a cure for gout caused much criticism.

1771 CE

#13011

Aldrovandus Lotharingiae, ou catalogue des animaux, quardupedes, reptiles, oseaux, poissons, insectes, vermisseaux et coquillages qui habitent la Lorraine et les Trois-Évechés.

A catalogue of "over 1100 quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, worms and mollusks native to Lorraine. Buc’hoz follows the classification schemes of Argenville, Brisson, Buffon, Daubenton and G…

1771 CE

#5052

An enquiry into the nature, cause and cure of the angina suffocativa, or sore throat distemper, as it is commonly called by the inhabitants of this city and colony.

One of the earliest accurate descriptions of diphtheria. Osler considered the book “an American classic of the first rank”. Bard was personal physician to George Washington.

1771 CE

#3751

Animadversiones in morbum, vulgo pellagram.

In Frapolli’s careful description of pellagra, the disease was first given its present name. This book is also the first Italian account of the malady. Partial English translation in No. 2241.

1771 CE

#6020

Appendix to Lynn’s The history of a fatal inversion of the uterus.

First accurate description of retroversion of the uterus.

1771 CE

#1357

Erste Gründe einer Physiologie der eigentlichen thierischen Natur thierischer Körper.

Unzer was probably the first to employ the work “reflex” in connection with sensory–motor reactions. T. Laycock translated his book into English for the Sydenham Society in 1851.

1771 CE

#11299

Index supellectilis anatomicae: Rerum anatomicarum; tum phialis onctentarum In liquore limpido, Tum exsiccatarum. Quam suos In usus summa cum peritia atque dexteritate confecit...Bernard Siegfried Albinus

An listing of 431 medical museum specimens, including those preserved in liquid as well as dried specimens, prepared for their sale. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1771 CE

#10131

Médecine vétérinaire. 3 vols. Tome premier, contenant l'exposition de la structure & les fonctions du cheval & du boeuf. Tome second, contenant l'exposition des maladies du cheval, du boeuf, de la brebis &c. Tome troisieme, contenant l'exposition des médicaments nécessaires au maréchal, & l'analyse des auteurs qui ont écrit sur l'art vétérinaire, depuis Végece jusqu'à nos jours.

Vitet was a medical doctor who later became mayor of Lyon. Baas, Outlines of the history of medicine III, 716 writes that he "introduced the experimental method into veterinary medicine." Volume 3 contains both an ana…

1771 CE

#13257

Ornithologia Britannica: seu Avium omnium Britannicarum tam Terrrestrium quam Aquaticarum catalogus, sermone Latino, An;glico & Gallico redditus: Cui subjicitur appendix, aves Alienigenas, in Angliam raro adventientes, complectens.

This was probably the first natural history treatise published in England that employed binomial nomenclature. Semi-facsimile edition edited by Alfred Newton and published by The Willoughby Society in 1880 as Tunstall…

1771 CE

#3675

The natural history of the human teeth.

This is a detailed study of the mouth, jaws and teeth with exceptionally accurate plates. Hunter correctly understood the growth and development of the jaws and their relation to the muscles of mastication. He coined …

1771 CE

#12472

Travels through that part of North America formerly called Louisiana by Mr. Bossu, ... Translated from the French by John Reinhold Forster, F.A.S. Illustrated with notes relative chiefly to natural history to which is added by the translator a systematic catalogue of all the known plants of English North America, or a Flora Americae Septentrionalis together with an abstract of the most useful and necessary articles contained in Peter Loefling's travels through Spain and Cumana in South America referred to the pages of the original Swedish edition. 2 vols.

This work is a series of 21 letters that Bossu wrote to the Marquis de L’Estrade describing his life and travels in the vast Louisiana country from 1751 to 1762. His ventures ranged from Fort Chartres, in presen…

1771 CE

#6604.9

Verzeichnis einer Samlung von Bildnissen, gröstentheils berühmter Aerzte; so wohl in Kupferstichen, schwarzer Kunst und Holzschnitten, als auch in einigen Handzeichungen: diesem sin verschiedene Nachrichten und Unmerkungen Vorgesekt, die so wohl zur Geschichte der Arzenengelahrtheit; als vornehinsich zur Geschichte der Künste gehören.

“Very valuable reports on artistic anatomy and the history of anatomic illustration” (Choulant). Probably represents the first history of medical portraiture. Digital facsimile from Googe Books at this link.

1771 CE–1772 CE

#1833

Bibliotheca botanica. 2 vols.

This was the first of the several bibliographies compiled by Haller, one of the greatest figures in the history of medicine. The work contains the most exhaustive and thorough information of the writings in the field …

1771 CE–1776 CE

#9564

Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs. 3 vols.

"Between 1768 and 1774, he [Pallas] led an expedition to central Russian provinces, Povolzhye, Urals, West Siberia, Altay, and Transbaikal, collecting natural history specimens for the academy. He explored the Caspian…

1772 CE

#7767

Cours d'hippiatrique, ou traité complet de la médecine des chevaux.

The leading 18th century French work on these subjects; some copies were issued with hand-colored plates. Digital facsimile of an uncolored copy from BnF Gallica at this link.

1772 CE

#921

De aëre fixo dicto, aut mephitico.

Discovery of nitrogen.

1772 CE

#1550

De structura fenestrae rotundae auris, et de tympano secundario anatomicae observationes.

Scarpa’s first scientific work, a comparative anatomical investigation of the ear, in which he offered a more accurate and complete description of the osseous labyrinth and demonstrated the true function of the …

1772 CE

#920

Observations on the different kinds of air.

The isolation of oxygen was first achieved by Priestley. He also demonstrated that plants immersed in water give off oxygen and that this gas is essential for animal life.

1772 CE

#2277

On the digestion of the stomach after death.

1772 CE

#6269

Practical observations on the child-bed fever.

Leake insisted on the contagious nature of puerperal fever. Reprinted, London, Sydenham Society, 1949.

1772 CE

#2887

Some account of a disorder of the breast.

This classic description of angina pectoris is the substance of a paper read on July 21, 1768. Although descriptions of angina are to be found in the works of earlier writers, these mention only dyspnoea in their case…

1772 CE

#13627

The natural history of the tea-tree, with observations on the medical qualities of tea, and effects of tea-drinking.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1772 CE

#7660

The naturalist's and traveller's companion. Containing instructions for discovering and preserving objects of natural history....

Digital facsimile of the first edition from Google Books at this link. Digital facsimile of the corrected, enlarged, and more elegant second edition of 1774 from the Internet Archive at this link.

1772 CE

#154

Von der Physiognomik.

Lavater was the last of the descriptive physiognomists. He expanded the above work into Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung der Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe, 1775-78. This was translated into English …

1773 CE

#2028.52

A short account of a society at Amsterdam instituted in the year 1767 for the recovery of drowned persons…

An English summary of No. 2028.51, and the first detailed report on the society’s work published in England. Johnson proposed the formation of a similar society in England. The Royal Humane Society was formed by…

1773 CE

#14117

A treatise on the kinkcough. With an appendix. Containing an account of hemlock, and its preparation.

Probably the first book on whooping cough, proceeding Watt's book by 40 years. Butter proposed hemlock as a treatment for whooping cough. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link. (Thanks to Webb Dordick for t…

1773 CE

#6270

A treatise on the management of pregnant and lying-in women, and the means of curing, but more especially of preventing the principal disorders to which they are liable. Together with some new directions concerning the delivery of the child and placenta in natural births. illustrated with cases.

White was the first to state clearly in a text on midwifery the necessity of absolute cleanliness in the lying-in chamber, the isolation of infected patients, and adequate ventilation. He instituted the principle of u…

1773 CE

#13842

Beschreibung einer Berlinischen Medaillen-Sammlung, die vorzüglich aus Gedächtnis-Münzen berühmter Aerzte bestehet; in welcher verschiedene Abhandlungen, zur Erklärung der alten und neuen Münzwissenschaft, imgleichen zur Geschichte der Arzneigelahrtheit und der Litteratur eingerücket sind von von J.C.W. Moehsen ...

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1773 CE

#11706

De' fenomeni della circolazione osservata nel giro universale de' vasi; de' fenomeni della circolazione languente; de' moti del sangue independenti dall'azione del cuore; e del pulsar delle arterie.

In four memoirs on the dynamics of the circulatory system resulting from 337 experiments recorded in this workSpallanzani studied the role of the circulation in every stage from embryo to adult, and it was through his…

1773 CE

#8813

Observations on the diseases in long voyages to hot countries, and particularly on those which prevail in the East Indies.

Digital facsimile of the third edition, "revised and enlarged" (1793) from the Internet Archive at this link.

1773 CE

#667

Observations sur l’urine humaine.

Discovery of urea, independently of Boerhaave. Rouelle isolated urea as the alcohol-soluble substance from urine. He was the first to present proof of the high nitrogen content of urea.

1773 CE

#589

Of the electric property of the torpedo.

The first accurate study of the electrical organs of the torpedo fish were made by Walsh, who was given the Copley Medal of the Royal Society for his work on the subject. Walsh proved that the shock of the torpedo was…

1773 CE

#155

Théorie de la figure humaine.

This work on the human figure, published more than 100 years after the death of Rubens, is one of a handful of anatomical treatises illustrated by an artist of the first magnitude.

1773 CE–1774 CE

#11779

Vermium terrestrium et fluviatilium, seu animalium infusoriorum, helminthecorum, et testaceorum non marinorum, succincta historia. 2 vols.

In this work Müller arranged the Infusoria into genera and species for the first time. Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1774 CE

#6835

Kaitai Shinsho (解体新書 Kyūjitai: 解體新書,(Anatomical Tables). A translation of Johan Adam Kulmus's Ontleedkundige Tafelen by Sugita Genpaku.

The first translation of any Western medical text into Japanese. "Kaitai Shinsho represented the beginning of two epoch-making developments. First and most directly Gempaku's work set in motion the modern transformati…

1774 CE

#6451.90

An oration…containing an enquiry into the natural history of medicine among the Indians in North-America; and a comparative view of their diseases and remedies, with those of civilized nations.

Rush was the first American physician to publish a detailed study of native American medicine. Digital facsimile from the Medical Heritage Library, Internet Archive, at this link.

1774 CE

#6157

Anatomia uteri humani gravidi tabulis illustrata. The anatomy of the human gravid uterus exhibited in figures.

Hunter originally trained as Smellie’s assistant. Once he achieved brilliant professional and financial success he became a great collector of rare books and manuscripts, coins, paintings, minerals, shells, and …

1774 CE

#203.7

Ausfürliche Nachricht von neuentdeckten Zoolithen, unbekannter vierfüsiger Thiere…

Esper was the first to record the finding, in Gailenreuth Cave, of human bones alongside the remains of unknown and probably extinct animals. The implications of this dramatic observation published in a color plate bo…