PETIT, De lacrymis libri tres, 1661

First edition.
Pierre Petit (1617-1687) was a 17th-century Parisian physician and scholar. In De lacrymis libri tres, he offers a comprehensive study of tears, addressing their physiological nature, causes, and emotional and spiritual significance. The work is structured into three books, each exploring different aspects of tears, from their anatomical origin to their role in expressions of pain, joy, or devotion.
Questions treated by Petitus include why ‘good’ (brave) men are prone to weeping, why women weep more than men and whether animals are also able to weep.