Details
HELMHOLTZ, Hermann von (1821-1894). Beschreibung eines Augen-Spiegels zur Untersuchung der Netzhaut im lebenden Auge. Berlin: A. Frstner'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (P. Jeanrenaud), 1852.
8o (228 x 140 mm). 1 engraved plate by Afinger after drawings by Helmholtz. Untrimmed and partially unopened in original yellow printed wrappers; black cloth slipcase.
Provenance: Olga Helmholtz, the author's wife, on whom he first experimented with the ophthalmoscope (author's presentation inscription inside wrapper: "Seiner Olga, zum Gedchtnisse daran, dass ihr Auge das erste war, dessen Hintergrund sich dem forschenden Auge entschleierte, der Verfasser").
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY of Helmholtz's announcement of his invention of the ophthalmoscope. This was a by-product of Helmholtz's attempt to demonstrate to his physiology students that when the human eye is made to glow with reflected light, the light emitted from the pupil follows the same course it took in entering. Realizing that if the light could be brought to a focus the details of the retina would be made visible, he invented a device to accomplish this objective. The ophthalmoscope greatly improved the ability of ophthalmologists to diagnose eye disease and revolutionized visual science.
Helmholtz first tested the ophthalmoscope on his wife Olga, to whom he then inscribed this copy of the publication announcing the invention. There can be few books in the history of science or medicine with such romantic associations.
Garrison-Morton 5866; Grolier Medicine 65 (this copy exhibited); Heirs of Hippocrates 1886; Waller 4294; Norman 1041.
8o (228 x 140 mm). 1 engraved plate by Afinger after drawings by Helmholtz. Untrimmed and partially unopened in original yellow printed wrappers; black cloth slipcase.
Provenance: Olga Helmholtz, the author's wife, on whom he first experimented with the ophthalmoscope (author's presentation inscription inside wrapper: "Seiner Olga, zum Gedchtnisse daran, dass ihr Auge das erste war, dessen Hintergrund sich dem forschenden Auge entschleierte, der Verfasser").
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY of Helmholtz's announcement of his invention of the ophthalmoscope. This was a by-product of Helmholtz's attempt to demonstrate to his physiology students that when the human eye is made to glow with reflected light, the light emitted from the pupil follows the same course it took in entering. Realizing that if the light could be brought to a focus the details of the retina would be made visible, he invented a device to accomplish this objective. The ophthalmoscope greatly improved the ability of ophthalmologists to diagnose eye disease and revolutionized visual science.
Helmholtz first tested the ophthalmoscope on his wife Olga, to whom he then inscribed this copy of the publication announcing the invention. There can be few books in the history of science or medicine with such romantic associations.
Garrison-Morton 5866; Grolier Medicine 65 (this copy exhibited); Heirs of Hippocrates 1886; Waller 4294; Norman 1041.