Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1249

ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT (1769-1859) Versuche über die gereizte Muskel- und Nervenfaser. Decker 1797 Vol. I: 495 pp.; Vol. II: 468 pp., 8 plates. 19.2 cm.

Perhaps the greatest scientist of his time, Humboldt was one of the most famous men in Europe. His immense literary output reflects the quantity and variety of his work, which covered virtually every area of the natural and physical sciences. The present work on electrical physiology, while overshadowed by his accomplishments in other fields, is nonetheless of fundamental significance. Taking as a starting point Galvani's discovery of muscular irritability, Humboldt describes and illustrates his own experiments in this field and translates his findings into the language of practical chemistry.

Cited references: Cushing H495; Waller 10851; Wellcome III, p. 314

Gift of John Martin, M.D.