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FONTANA, Traité sur le venin de la vipère, 1781
FONTANA, Félix.
Traité sur le venin de la vipère, sur les poisons américains, sur le laurier-cerise et sur quelques autres poisons végétaux.
Paris, Nyon l'ainé, 1781.
Two volumes 4to (257x192 mm), (2)-xxviii-(2 bl.)-329 pages/ xi-373 pages and 10 plates. binding : Contemporary full calf, gilt spine in six compartments. Binding slightly rubbed. Bookplates teared on inner covers.
First french edition.
Fontana relates numerous experiments in which he injects venoms and poisons into animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, etc.). The majority of the work is devoted to a systematic study of viper venom but it also addresses plant poisons, such as Ticunas (probably Curare) reported on poisoned arrows from the Amazon. He is thus one of the first to approach toxicology experimentally.
Good copy bound in contemporary full calf.
references: Garrison-Morton [2103 : "In 1781 Fontana issued a greatly expanded 2-volume edition in French, including vegetable poisons, and a section on "American poisons"] Heirs of Hippocrate [997 : "In 1781 Fontana revised and enlarged his original treatise and added other essays, publishing the entire work in French."].
Price : 1000 €
European VAT number: FR87515091171
© Eric Zink, Antiquarian Bookseller