Details
ROKITANSKY, Karl von (1804-1878). Handbuch der allgemeinen pathologischen Anatomie. Vienna: A. Strauss's Witwe & Sommer for Braumller & Seidel, 1846-1844-1842.
3 volumes, 8o (210 x 132 mm). Each volume with two title-leaves, vols. 2 and 3 with separate errata leaves. (Fol. 31/7 in vol. 2 rehinged [a cancel?], occasional unobtrusive underlinings in pencil or ink, short marginal tear to 2:7/7, small marginal dampstain at end of vol. 3). Contemporary half calf gilt, edges stained green (minor rubbing to extremities, upper inner hinges weak). Provenance: Anders Adolf Retzius (1796-1860), Swedish pioneer of comparative anatomy and anthropology (signatures and inkstamps in vols. 2 and 3); his son Magnus Gustaf Retzius (1842-1919), anatomist, neurologist and anthropologist (bookplates).
FIRST EDITION of a highly influential work in pathological anatomy. "Rokitansky rightly may be regarded as the finest anatomical pathologist of his age. It was largely through his influence that the Vienna School reblossomed into world prominence. Although he never practiced medicine, his studies and descriptions of structural changes in disease, based on over 30,000 autopsies performed while he was director of Vienna's Pathological Institute, had an enormous impact on clinical medicine. The number of original observations in the Handbuch is staggering..." (Heirs of Hippocrates). One of Rokitansky's most important contributions was the establishment of a comprehensive and systematic method of anatomical analysis in the performance of autopsies; "after Rokitansky names of diseases, like pneumonia and typhoid fever, conveyed to the well-trained medical graduate an anatomical picture and not as theretofore a list of symptoms of varying complexity" ( E. R. Long, A History of Pathology, New York, 1965, p. 107). He also "foresaw the eventual importance of chemical pathology, at that time non-existent" (Garrison-Morton); he "extended Laennec's description of emphysema, improved existing knowledge of pneumonia, and gave a classic description of acute yellow atrophy of the liver" (Norman). In the Handbuch Rokitansky attempted to revive the humoral doctrine of disease; criticized by Virchow, Rokitansky conceded his error and rewrote the relevant sections for the next two editions of the Handbuch.
FINE ASSOCIATION COPY. A. A. Retzius made substantial contributions to primitive vertebrate anatomy, but his most important achievement was to establish a method for identifiying human ethnic groups according to anatomical charcteristics of the cranium and facial bones, thus founding the discipline of physical anthopology. RARE. Garrison-Morton 2293 and 3618; Heirs of Hippocrates e IV, p. 550; Norman 1845. (3)
3 volumes, 8
FIRST EDITION of a highly influential work in pathological anatomy. "Rokitansky rightly may be regarded as the finest anatomical pathologist of his age. It was largely through his influence that the Vienna School reblossomed into world prominence. Although he never practiced medicine, his studies and descriptions of structural changes in disease, based on over 30,000 autopsies performed while he was director of Vienna's Pathological Institute, had an enormous impact on clinical medicine. The number of original observations in the Handbuch is staggering..." (Heirs of Hippocrates). One of Rokitansky's most important contributions was the establishment of a comprehensive and systematic method of anatomical analysis in the performance of autopsies; "after Rokitansky names of diseases, like pneumonia and typhoid fever, conveyed to the well-trained medical graduate an anatomical picture and not as theretofore a list of symptoms of varying complexity" ( E. R. Long, A History of Pathology, New York, 1965, p. 107). He also "foresaw the eventual importance of chemical pathology, at that time non-existent" (Garrison-Morton); he "extended Laennec's description of emphysema, improved existing knowledge of pneumonia, and gave a classic description of acute yellow atrophy of the liver" (Norman). In the Handbuch Rokitansky attempted to revive the humoral doctrine of disease; criticized by Virchow, Rokitansky conceded his error and rewrote the relevant sections for the next two editions of the Handbuch.
FINE ASSOCIATION COPY. A. A. Retzius made substantial contributions to primitive vertebrate anatomy, but his most important achievement was to establish a method for identifiying human ethnic groups according to anatomical charcteristics of the cranium and facial bones, thus founding the discipline of physical anthopology. RARE. Garrison-Morton 2293 and 3618; Heirs of Hippocrates e IV, p. 550; Norman 1845. (3)