Descrizione

With 9 engr. plates (6 folding). 2 leaves, liv pp., 1 errata leaf, 298 pp.; 2 leaves, 296 pp. 8vo. Contemp. calf, spine with gilt lettering "Nouvelles Recherches" (somewhat rubbed, defect on upper back), old repair at foot of hinges). London and Paris, Lacombe, 1769. First French edition of one of Spallanzani's (1729-1799) main works, transl. from the original Italian ed. (Modena, 1765). The second part, with separate title page, is entitled "Nouvelles recherches physiques et métaphysiques sur la nature et la religion, avec une nouvelles théorie de la terre, et une mesure de la hauteur des Alpes, par M. de Needham". Among the many dedicated natural philosophers of the 18th century, Spallanzani stands preeminent for applying bold and imaginative experimental methods to an extraordinary range of hypothesis and phenomena. The English biologist and microscopist John Turberville Needham (1713-1781) performed experiments on spontaneous generation in mutton broth and hay infusions. He translated most of Spallanzani's works. His experiments were later challenged and repeated by Spallanzini in more carefully experiments. Needham's second volume present here is mainly his work on Halley's meteoric hypothesis. - Wellcome V, 156; Quérard IX, 239; DSB X, 9 and XII, 553; Ciorancescu 18, 52489. SCIENCE: GENERAL ; MICROSCOPY ;