Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 537

THOMAS WILLIS (1621-1675) Diatribae duae medico-philosophicae. Apud Gerbrandus Schagen 1663 [32] 376 pp., plate. 12.7 cm.

Willis, a graduate of Oxford, practiced medicine and taught there until 1666, when he went to London, where he attained a large practice and was known as an outstanding physician. In addition to his practice he carried on extensive research and published a number of important works on medicine, anatomy, and pharmacology. In this work Willis suggests that fermentation is an activity of the intestines, gives an early description of epidemic typhoid fever, and notes that urine has a sweet taste in diabetes mellitus. This work was first published in London in 1659, and this particular copy is one of the early editions published in Europe.

Cited references: Cushing W212 (1662 ed.); Garrison-Morton 5020 (1st ed., 1659); Waller 10326 (1669 ed.)

Gift of John Martin, M.D.