Traité de la cataracte et du glaucoma

BRISSEAU (Michel)

Beschreibung

Paris, Laurent d Houry, 1709. 8°, (16), 260, (12) pages and 4 plates ; contemporary calf (loss of leather to spine, upper joint cracked, corners damaged). A scarce presentation copy of the first book exposing "the true nature and location of cataract". First edition of the first book describing "the true nature and location of cataract". "Before the late seventeenth century it was thought that a cataract was an opaque skin within the capsule of the optic lens. Although Maître-Jan proved by postmortem examination in 1692 that the cataract was a clouding and hardening of the lens itself, it was not until Michel Brisseau's (1676-1743) work on the same subject in 1709 that the medical community accepted it as fact." (Heirs of Hippocrates). "Brisseau (1676-1743) punctured the lenses of animal eyes without causing blindness and dissected the human eye of a soldier, who had a cataract, at autopsy and found that the lens was opaque. He presented his evidence that cataract involved the lens on November 17, 1705 to the Royal Academy of Science in Paris. Brisseau s teacher, Duverney, advised him not to present his observations because he would ruin his reputation. However, Maître-Jan and Méry (1645-1722) supported him. Brisseau, in his paper Treatise on Cataract (1709), gave priority to Lasnier. There was apparently a high degree of collegiality among Maître-Jan, Méry and the younger Brisseau. Despite severe criticisim from Woodhouse (1650-1730), the recognition that catacract involved the lens was supported by authorities such as Boerhave (1668-1738) and Morgagni (1682-1771)." (Marvin L. Kwitko, Charles D. Kelman, The History of Modern Cataract Surgery, 1998, pp. 20-21.) A scarce presentation copy, given by the author to the young physician and botanist Jean-Baptiste Lestiboudois (born in 1715). The first blank leaf bears his ownership inscription : "ex libris J. B. Lestiboudois medicinae licentiatus 1739. Ex dono D. Brisseau." Garrison/Morton 5825 ; Heirs of Hippocrates 677. Provenance : J.-B. Lestiboudois ; Pierre Almaric (Jan. 1983) ; Christie's, 9 June 1999, n° 78. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers YEG-1127

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Traité de la cataracte et du glaucoma

Einband: Hardcover

Auflage: 1. Auflage