Amsterdam

1622 CE

#9633

Tabacologia: Hoc est, tabaci, seu nicotianae descriptio medico-cheirurgico-pharmaceutica: Vel eius praeparatio & usus in omnibus corporis humani incommodis.

Neander described tobacco, its processing, and medical-pharmaceutical use. His book Includes images of the plants, of Indian, Oriental and European types of pipes, as well as depictions of cultivation and processing b…

1632 CE

#287

Thaumatographia naturalis, in decem classes distincta, in quibus admiranda 1 Coeli. 2 Elementorum. 3 Meteororum. 4 Fossilium. 5 Plantarum. 6 Avium. 7 Quadrupedum. 8 Exanguium. 9 Piscium. 10 Hominis.

A unillustrated pocket guide, issued in duodecimo format on "admiranda" or wonders of nature organized in ten categories (heaven, earth, and topics relating to meteors, fossils or minerals, plants, birds, quadrupeds, …

1636 CE

#12135

Pharmacopoea Amstelredamensis, Senatus auctoritate munita. [Edited by Nicolaes Tulp.]

Tulp was both a surgeon and mayor of Amsterdam. As such he was responsible for inspections of apothecary shops. Thanks to new shipping routes, pharmacists in Amsterdam had access to many exotic herbs and spices from t…

1637 CE

#6744

De scriptis medicis, libri duo.

Van der Linden’s book was at the time of its appearance the most complete medical bibliography yet produced. He issued corrected editions in 1651 and 1662, and G.A. Mercklin published a considerably expanded ver…

1645 CE

#61.2

Opera quae extant omnia. Ex recension Joh. Antonidae vander Linden.

Spieghel succeeded Casseri in the chair of anatomy at Padua. This edition of his collected writings contains the second printing of the 97 copperplates first printed in Casseri’s Tabulae anatomicae (No. 381) plu…

1648 CE

#2263.1

Historia naturalis Brasiliae.

Piso's study of the natural history of Brazil was also a pioneer work on tropical medicine, and also the largest work from the standpoint of format published by the Elzeviers. The folio includes De medicina brasiliens…

1648 CE

#665

Ortus medicinae.

Helmont was one of the founders of biochemistry. He was the first to realize the physiological importance of ferments and gases, and indeed invented the word “gas”. He introduced the gravimetric idea in th…

1649 CE

#4965

Des passions de l’âme.

Descartes believed the soul to be a definite entity, giving rise to thoughts, feelings, and acts of volition. He was one of the first to regard the brain as an organ integrating the functions of mind and body. English…

1652 CE

#3737

Observationes medicae.

One of the earliest accounts of beri-beri is on pp. 300-05 of this work. Tulp, notable as the demonstrator in Rembrandt’s “Anatomy Lesson”, was among the first, in the same book, to describe the ileo…

1655 CE

#10146

Prae-Adamitae, sive exercitatio super versibus duodecimo, decimotertio, & decimoquarto, capitis quinti Epistolae D. Pauli ad Romanos: Quibus inducuntur primi homines ante Adamum conditi.

"In his Prae-Adamitae, published in Latin in 1655 and in English as Men Before Adam in 1656, La Peyrère argued that Paul's words in Chapter 5, verses 12-14 of his Epistle to the Romans should be interpreted suc…

1658 CE

#1825

De Indiae utriusque re naturali et medica libri quatuordecim.

This is an extensively revised and enlarged second edition of Piso’s Historia naturalis Brasiliae (1648). In this edition Piso reprinted Bontius's De medicina Indorum (1642) with two additional books on Asian fl…

1663 CE

#6015

Heel-konstige aanmerkkingen betreffende de gebreeken der vrouwen.

Roonhuyze’s book is regarded as the first work on operative gynecology in the modern sense. He successfully performed caesarean section several times, and he used retractors for the repair of vesicovaginal fistu…

1666 CE

#1354.9

Anatome medullae spinalis, et nervorum.

The first separate work on the spinal cord. Blasius “illustrated the separate origin of the anterior and posterior roots, the dorsal root ganglia and the differentiation between the gray and white matter of the …

1667 CE–1673 CE

#292.1

Observationes anatomicae selectiores. [Part II: Observationum anatomicarum… pars altera]. 2 vols.

The only publications of one of the earliest scientific societies, active from 1664 to 1672. Founded by Gerard Blaes, and numbering Jan Swammerdam among its members, the college devoted itself to comparative anatomica…

1668 CE

#5735

Heel- en geneeskonstige aanmerkingen.

Van Meekeren was first to record a bone graft. He states (Chap. 1) that he read a report of it in a letter received by the Rev. Engebert Sloot of Slooterdijk from John Kraanwinkel, a missionary in Russia, where the op…

1670 CE

#383

Spicilegium anatomicum.

Kerckring made important investigations on the development of the foetal bones. He was the first to describe the large ossicle sometimes present at the lambdoidal suture; his name is remembered in the valvulae connive…

1673 CE

#4161

Exercitationes medicae practicae circa medendi methodum.

This work contains the first clear description of proteinuria, noting precipitation of urine with heat or acetic acid. Albuminuria was first described by Dekkers (Chapter V). A translation of this chapter is in Major,…

1673 CE

#9676

Miscellanea anatomica, hominis, brutorumque variorum, fabricam diversam magna parte exhibentia.

The "first comprehensive manual of comparative anatomy based on the original and literary researches of a working anatomist. Blasius's observation on human anatomy are followed by eighty five pages devoted to the anat…

1675 CE

#13272

Ephemeri Vita. Of afbeeldingh van 's menschen leven, Vertoont in de Wonderbaarlijcke en nooyt gehoorde Historie van het vliegent ende een-dagh-levent Haft of Oever-aas. Een dierken, ten aansien van sijn naam, over al in Neerlandt bekent.

In his final publication Swammerdam studied the anatomy, development and behavior of the mayfly. Translated into English as Emphemeri vita: Or the natural history and anatomy of the ephemeron, a fly that lives but fiv…

1678 CE

#13920

Romani Collegii Societatis Jesu Musaeum celeberrimum.

The first catalogue of Kircher's museum collected by Kircher at the Jesuit College in Rome between 1651 and 1680. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1678 CE–1703 CE

#9543

Hortus Indicus Malabaricus: Continens regni Malabarici apud Indos cereberrimi onmis generis plantas rariores, Latinas, Malabaricis, Arabicis, Brachmanum charactareibus hominibusque expressas ....12 vols.

The earliest comprehensive printed work on the flora of Asia and the tropics in 12 folio volumes written and published under the supervision of van Rheede tot Drakenstein, a colonial administrator of the Dutch East In…

1679 CE

#2321

Opera medica.

Tuberculosis was known to the ancients only in its advanced form, and little progress was made in the knowledge of the condition until the time of Sylvius. He asserted that tubercles are often to be found in the lung …

1680 CE

#580

Physiologia Kircheriana experimentalis.

Includes the first recorded experiment in hypnotism in animals.

1681 CE

#296

Anatome animalium, terrestrium variorum, volatilium, aquatilium, serpentum, insectorum, ovorumque, structuram naturalem, ex veterum, recentiorum, propriisque observationibus proponens, figuris variis illustrata.

“The first comprehensive manual of comparative anatomy based on the original and literary researches of a working anatomist” (Cole). Blaes anticipated Cowper in finding the Cowper’s glands, which he …

1683 CE

#3927

Experimenta nova circa pancreas.

Brunner came near to discovering pancreatic diabetes. His experiments on the dog represent pioneer work on internal secretion. Following excision of the pancreas, he recorded extreme thirst and polyuria. Translated in…

1684 CE

#12044

Verhandelinge van de opvoedinge en ziekten der kinderen. Vertoonende op wat wyse de kinderen gezond konnen blyven, en ziek zijnde, bequamelyk konnen herstelt werden. Zeer nodig voor alle huyshoudende lieden.

A book intended for a popular audience on raising, educating, and caring for health problems of children. Blankaart offered advice and instructions to parents for treating all sorts of children's illnesses as well as …

1685 CE

#385

Anatomia humani corporis, centum et quinque tabulis, per artificiosiss. G. de Lairesse ad vivum delineatis.

This large folio by Dutch physician, anatomist, poet, and playwright Govert Bidloo contains an engraved title, engraved portrait of Bidloo by Abraham Bloteling after Gérard de Lairesse and 105 engraved plates a…

1689 CE

#13100

Catalogus plantarum Horti Medici Amstelodamensis. Pars prior.

First published catalogue of plants of the Hortus Medicus, precursor of the Hortus Botanicus. The Hortus Medicus, founded in 1682 under Commelin's guidance, was ranked among the most comprehensive in Europe, including…

1691 CE

#7579

Observationum anatomico-chirurgicarum centuria. Accedit catalogus rariorum quae in Museo Ruyschiano asservantur.

Includes Ruysch's catalogue of the extent of his medical museum in 1691. Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

1692 CE

#3352

Surdus loquens; seu, methodus, quâ qui surdus natus est loqui descere possit.

English translation, 1694, by John Wallis (see No. 3348).

1697 CE–1701 CE

#7756

Horti medici Amstelodamensis rariorum tam orientalis, quam occidentalis Indiae, aliarumque peregrinarum plantarum magno studio ac labore, sumptibus civitatis Amstelodamensis, longâ annorum serie collectarum, descriptio et icones ad vivum æri incisæ. Opus posthumum, latinitate donatum, notisque & observationibus illustratum, à Frederico Ruyschio & Francisco Kiggelario. 2 vols.

In 1682 Jan Commelin helped establish the Amsterdam Botanical Garden, which introduced many new exotic plants to Europe, collected during the voyages of the Dutch East and West India Companies (VOC and WIC) in the Eas…

1699 CE

#13876

Voyages de François Bernier ... contenant la description des états du grand mogol. Où il est traité des richesses, des forces, de la justice, & des causes principales de la decadence des etats de l'Asie, & de plusieurs évenemens considerables. Et où l'on voit comment l'or & l'argent, après avoir circulé dans le monde, passent dans l'Hindoustan, d'où ils ne reviennent plus.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1700 CE

#3353

Dissertatio de loquela, qua non solum vox humana, & loquendi artificium ex originibus suis erruunter.

Amman’s method of instructing deaf-mutes. He was one of the most successful of all teachers in this sphere. English translation as A dissertation on speech. To which not only the human voice and the art of speak…

1700 CE

#4299

Opera posthuma.

Page 68: first description of leontiasis ossea.

1701 CE–1715 CE

#389

Thesaurus anatomicus primus [-decimus]... Het eerste [-tiende] anatomisch cabinet....

Probably the most original artist in the history of anatomical preparations, Ruysch enjoyed making up elaborate three-dimensional emblems of mortality from his specimens. These fantastic, dream-like concoctions constr…

1705 CE

#2729

Novum vasorum corporis humani systema.

Vieussens was among the first to describe the morbid changes in mitral stenosis, the throbbing pulse in aortic insufficiency, and the first correctly to describe the structure of the left ventricle, the course of the …

1719 CE

#13450

Mariæ Sibillæ Merian Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium: In quâ, præter vermes et erucas Surinamenses, earumque admirandam metamorphosin, plantæ, flores & fructus, quibus vescuntur, & quibus fuerunt inventæ, exhibentur. His adjunguntur bufones, lacerti, serpentes, araneæ, aliaque admiranda istius regionis animalcula

Originally as Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium. Amsterdam, 1705. The 1719 contains 12 additional plates and corresponding text, 10 provided by the author's daughters from material left at her death, and 2 suppli…

1725 CE

#11223

Histoire physique de la mer.

The first book devoted entirely to marine science and the first oceanographic study of a single region. Marsigli conducted an intensive investigation of the Gulf of Lyon in the south of France, taking soundings to obt…

1726 CE

#12958

Danubius pannonico-mysicus, observationibus geographicis, astronomicis, hydrographicis, historicis, physicis perlustratus et in sex tomos digestus. 6 vols.

An extensive illustrated work, with 283 copperplate engravings, on the natural history of the Danube river, the longest river in central Europe, which runs from southern Germany into Austria, through Slovakia, Hungary…

1726 CE

#6746

Methodus discendi medicinam.

During 1710 Boerhaave lectured on the Methodus discendi medicinam. In 1726 the first edition was published from notes taken at his lectures but without his permission. Lindeboom, Bibliographia Boerhaaviana (1959) No. …

1734 CE–1765 CE

#7485

Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio et iconibus artificiosissmis expressio per universam physices historiam. 4 vols.

With 4 folio volumes this is probably the most elaborate catalogue of a private natural history museum, wunderkammer, or cabinet of curiosities ever published. The text is printed in Latin and Dutch. The work includes…

1737 CE

#7462

Hortus Cliffortianus plantas exhibens quas in hortistam vivis quam siccis, Hartecampi in Hollandia, coluit ...Georgius Clifford.

The largest and most attractive book by Linnaeus, describing and illustrating plants in the garden and herbarium of George Clifford, governor of the Dutch East India Company, at Clifford's summer estate, Harlecamp. Th…

1737 CE

#13263

Thesaurus Zeylanicus exhibens plantas in Insula Zeylana nascentes; Inter quas plurimae novae species, & genera inveniuntur. Omnia Iconibus illustrata, ac descripta.

The first illustrated flora of Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon). Burman, a Dutch physician, was a friend and correspondent of Linnaeus and professor of botany. "Indeed, Linnaeus, as a guest at the Burman house, had a ha…

1741 CE–1750 CE

#6837

Het Amboinsche Kruidboek . . . Herbarium Amboinense . . . nunc primum in lucem edidit & in Latinum semonem vertit Joannes Burmannus. 6 vols.

Het Amboinsche kruidboek or Herbarium Amboinense, a catalogue of the plants of Ambon in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, by Georg Eberhard Rumphius, a German-born soldier and botanist employed by the Dutch East India …

1751 CE

#6830

Methodus studii medici emaculata & accessionibus locupletata ab Alberto ab Haller. 2 vols.

A greatly expanded version of Boerhaave's Methodus discendi medicinam (1726), resulting in a text perhaps triple or quadruple its original length. While Boerhaave frequently cited classic authors in his lectures, Hall…

1754 CE

#13783

Poissons, écrevisses et crabes, de diverse couleurs et figures extraordinaires, que l'on trouve autour des Isles Moluques, et sur les côtes des Terres Australes....

"This extraordinary work purports to show marine life from the seas around Indonesia at a time when the natural wildlife of that area was virtually unknown in Europe. Renard, both a publisher and a spy for the British…

1762 CE

#472

Considérations sur les corps organisés. 2 vols.

Bonnet’s theory of generation offered the best synthesis of 18th century ideas of development and remained a leading authority until von Baer. Bonnet believed in the preformation of the embryo. He used many of H…

1762 CE

#305

Traité anatomique de la chénille, qui ronge le bois de saule. Augmenté d'une explication abrégée des planches, et d'une description de l'instrument et des outils dont l'auteur s'est servi pour anatomiser à la loupe et au microscope, & pour déterminer la forcer de ses verres, suivant les règles de l'optique, & méchaniquement.

Lyonet’s monograph on the goat moth caterpillar remains a famous example of anatomical examination. It is also a thorough treatise on the microscope and lenses that Lyonet used. Digital facsimile from Biodiversi…

1763 CE

#2202

Nosologia methodica sistens morborum classes, genera et species juxtà Sydenhami mentem & botanicorum ordinem. 5 vols.

Sauvages de Lacroix, a friend of Linnaeus, adopted the botanical system of Linnaeus for the classification of diseases. His classification system listed 10 major classes of disease, which were further broken down into…

1768 CE

#2028.51

Historie en Gedenkschriften van de Maatschappy, tot Redding von Drenkelingen, Opgerecht Binnen Amsterdam 1768.

AMSTERDAM SOCIETY

The first of many volumes of reports by the first society to save people drowned in the waterways of Amsterdam, established in 1767. Before 1767 anyone taken from the water was presumed dead and no attempts were made …