Tractatus de Corde, Item De Motu & Colore Sanguinis, & Chyli in com Transitu.

Amstelodami [Amsterdam]: Danielem Elsevirium, 1671 A very good copy of the '3rd and Final' edition of Richard Lower's major treatise on the working of the heart and lungs. Richard Lower (1631-1691) was the first person to perform a blood transfusion, reporting in 1666 that blood had been successfully transferred between 2 dogs. Shortly afterwards he carried out an experiment to transfuse some blood from a sheep to a man - with some hopes that the gentleness of the lamb would be carried in the blood. He counted Thomas Willis (founder of the Royal Society) and Robert Hooke as close associates and was a follower of William Harvey. Tractatus de Corde (roughly translated as Treatment of the Heart) was his most important work, detailing his experimental surgery and findings. This copy, in contemporary full leather binding, formed part of the Selbourne Library - acquired by the late Hugh Selbourne - and has the Selbourne Library stamp to the verso of the title page, and the bottom margin of p 51. The binding, with raised bands and title label is worn (particularly at the joints and edges) but sound. Page edges lightly marbled. Internally, there is a signature of Charles Singer to the fep and the remains of some pencil notes. Contents: 2 blanks; title page with Selbourne stamp to verso; dedication 8pp; List of Chapters 6pp; text (with decorative headpiece and initial capital on p1) 237 pp; finis; blank; 6 folding plates; 2 final blanks. The contents are in very good clean condition. The plates would benefit from being refolded, but, apart from a little offsetting, are in very good clean condition.