1800–1809

1800 CE

#7291

Account of flint weapons discovered at Hoxne in Suffolk.

Frere described the discovery of several flint artifacts, which he believed to be “weapons of war,” associated with “some extraordinary bones, particularly a jaw-bone of enormous size of some unknown…

1800 CE

#9084

An epitome of the natural history of the insects of India, and the islands in the Indian seas: Comprising upwards of two hundred and fifty figures and descriptions of the most singular and beautiful species, selected chiefly from those recently discovered, and which have not appeared in the works of any preceding author. The figures are accurately drawn, engraved, and coloured, from specimens of the insects; the descriptions are arranged according to the system of Linnaeus; with references to the writings of Fabricius, and other systematic authors.

"For Insects of India Donovan described and figured specimens in his own cabinet, that were originally collected by the late Duchess of Portland, Marmaduke Tunstall, a Governor Holford (many years resident in India), …

1800 CE

#13392

Der botanische Garten der Universität zu Halle im Jahre 1799.

Digital facsimile from digitale-sammlungen.de at this link. Followed by Erster Nachtrag zu der Beschreibung des botanischen Gartens der Universität zu Halle (1801). Digital facsimile of the 1801 Nachtrag from bab…

1800 CE

#4490

Doit-on admettre une nouvelle espèce de goutte sous la dénomination de goutte asthénique primitive? an VIII

Landré-Beauvais gave the first reasonably accurate description of rheumatoid arthritis.

1800 CE

#1768

Historiae Aegypti compendium, Arabice et Latine. Partim ipse vertit, partim a Pocockio versum edendum curavit, notisque illustravit J. White.

Arabic-Latin bilingual text, edited by White, incorporating a translation begun by Edward Pococke the Younger (1648-1727). Abd al-Latif gave a good description of the fauna and flora of Egypt, its inhabitants and some…

1800 CE

#7749

Of the imagination, as a cause and as a cure of disorders of the body; exemplified by fictitious tractors, and epidemical convulsions. Read to the Literary and Philosophical Society of Bath.

The first clinical demonstration of the placebo effect, specifically in the context of Perkins' metallic tractors. Haybarth demonstrated the placebo effect caused by the tractors by obtaining the same results with woo…

1800 CE

#597

Recherches physiologiques sur la vie et la mort.

When Volta questioned the validity of experiments claiming to show responsiveness of an ex vivo heart, devoid of blood flow and nervous connections, Bichat obtained permission to experiment upon the freshly killed bod…

1800 CE

#5646

Researches, chemical and philosophical, chiefly concerning nitrous oxide.

Davy discovered the anesthetic properties of nitrous oxide and suggested its use during surgical operations. This suggestion was applied until 1844 when the American dentist Horace Wells volunteered to have the effect…

1800 CE

#537

Traité des membranes en général et diverses membranes en particulier.

Bichat conceived the idea of a science of anatomy and pathology based upon an accurate classification of the various tissues of the body, their distribution in the various organs and parts, and their particular suscep…

1800 CE–1801 CE

#5837

Mémoire sur l’ophtalmie régnante en Egypte.

The great military surgeon Larrey served during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt, where he was the first to observe the contagiousness of trachoma shortly after the successful invasion in 1798. The disease spread to E…

1800 CE–1802 CE

#5424

A prospect of exterminating the small-pox, being the history of the variolae vaccinae, or kine-pox, commonly called the cow-pox; as it has appeared in England: With an account of a series of inoculations performed for the kine-pox in Massachusetts. [Part II:] A prospect of exterminating the small pox part II, being a continuation of a narrative of facts concerning the progress of the new inoculation in America; together with practical observations on the local appearance, symptoms, and mode of treating the variola vaccina, or kine pock; including some letters to the author, from distinguished characters, on the subject of this benign remedy, now passing with a rapid step through all ranks of society in Europe and America.

Waterhouse introduced Jennerian vaccination into the U.S.A. He vaccinated his own child as his first case. See J. B. Blake, Benjamin Waterhouse and the introduction of vaccination. A reappraisal. Philadelphia, 1957. D…

1800 CE–1804 CE

#9090

The natural history of British shells, including figures and descriptions of all the species hitherto discovered in Great Britain, systematically arranged in the Linnean manner, with scientific and general observations on each. 5 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1800 CE–1805 CE

#311

Leçons d’anatomie comparée. 5 vols.

Cuvier played a leading part in the development of paleontology and stimulated the study of comparative anatomy. He ranks with von Baer as one of the founders of modern morphology. Vols. 1-2 ed. by C. Duméril, …

1801 CE

#7683

A concise and descriptive catalogue of all the natural and artificial curiosities in the museum of W. H. Yate, Esq. at Bromesberrow-Place near Glocester: being the extensive and valuable collection of the late Dr. Greene, of Lichfield, with many additions, collected by the present proprietor.

Publication date is estimated. Digital facsimile from the Beinicke Library, Yale University, at this link.

1801 CE

#3678

A treatise on the human teeth, concisely explaining their structure and cause of disease and decay.

First American book on the teeth, a pamphlet of 26pp. It was intended for the lay public and listed sound rules of oral hygiene, explained the nature of dental diseases and their treatment, and stressed preventive mai…

1801 CE

#1489

Abbildungen des menschlichen Auges.

Soemmerring is best remembered for his fine anatomical illustrations, of which those devoted to the human eye are a good example. In 1791 he made important observations on the macula lutea: "De foramine centrali limbo…

1801 CE

#3880

Accroissement singulier en grosseur des os d’un homme âgé de 39 ans. In: Mélanges de chirurgie, 407-11.

Saucerotte described before the Académie de Chirurgie in 1772 a case of what is now known to have been acromegaly. This is the first known clinical description of the disease, and is one of the five cases inclu…

1801 CE

#403

Anatomie générale, appliquée à la physiologie et à la médecine. 4 vols.

Bichat revolutionized descriptive anatomy. Where Morgagni and others had conceived of whole organs being diseased, Bichat showed how individual tissues could be separately affected. He covered tissue pathology, system…

1801 CE

#13616

Bibliographie entomologique, ou catalogue raisonné des ouvrages relatifs à l'entomologie et aux insectes, avec des notes critique et l'exposition des méthodes.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1801 CE

#4969.1

De l’éducation d’un homme sauvage, ou des premier développemens physiques et moraux du jeune sauvage de l’Aveyron.

A pupil of Pinel, Itard pioneered in the attempt to educate a young “wild boy” who had lived since infancy entirely apart from human contact. In adapting the methods of teaching deaf-mutes to his extraordi…

1801 CE

#6163

Drey Wahmehmungen von Schwangerschaften ausserhalb der Gebähr-mutter.

Interstitial pregnancy first reported.

1801 CE

#13453

Essais sur l'histoire naturelle des quadupedes de la province du Paraguay...Ecrits depuis 1783 jusqu'en 1796 (an 4 de la Republique Française); Avec une appendice sur quelques reptiles, en formant suite nécessaire aux Oeuvres de Buffon; Traduits sur le manuscrit inédit de l'auteur par M. L. E. Moreau-Saint-Méry.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. Published as Apuntamientos par ala historia natural de los Páxaros del Paragüay y Rio de la Plata. 2 vols. Madrid: La Imprenta de la Viuda…

1801 CE

#3361

Farther observations on the effects which take place from the destruction of the membrana tympani of the ear; with an account of an operation for the removal of a particular species of deafness.

Sir Astley Cooper reported three cases of Eustachian obstruction deafness relieved by perforation of the membrana tympani (myringotomy), an operation first performed by Eli, a quack, in 1760. Cooper’s earlier pa…

1801 CE

#13451

Histoire naturelle d'une partie d'oiseaux nouveaux et rares de l'Amérique et des Indes: Ouvrage destiné par l'Auteur à faire partie de son ornithologie d'Afrique.

Digital facsimile from BnF Gallica at this link.

1801 CE

#3580

Icones herniarum. Editae a S. T. Soemmerring.

Camper illustrated his own work, and was an outstanding anatomical artist. His illustrations of hernias are of great value.

1801 CE

#1118

Le sang, est-il identique dans tous les vaisseaux qu’il parcourt?

Like de Bordeu, and more definitely, Legallois anticipated the conception of internal secretions. He surmised from the identity in composition of all varieties of arterial blood and the diversity of venous blood in di…

1801 CE

#13750

Médecine du voyageur; ou avis sur les moyens de conserver la santé, et de remédier aux accidens et aux maladies auxquels on est exposé dans les voyages, tant par terre que par mer. Suivie d'un essai de médecine pratique sur les voyages, considérés comme remèdes. 3 vols.

Digital facsimile from wellcomecollection.org at this link.

1801 CE

#8372

Observations on the increase and decrease of different disease, and particularly of the plague.

Heberden observed that the number of deaths from dysentery sharply decreased over the 18th century, but that deaths attributed to apoplexy increased. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1801 CE

#12053

Observations sur la maladies appelée peste, le flux dissentérique, l'ophtalmie d'Égypte, et les moyens de s'en préserver. Avec des notions sur la fièvre jaune de Cadix, et les projet et plan d'un hôpital, pour le traitement maladies épidémiques et contagieuses.

At the time of publication Assalini, a military surgeon with Napoleon, characterized himself on the title page as "Docteur en Médecine et Chirugien de 1re classe de la Garde des Consuls..." Digital facsimile fr…

1801 CE

#1487

On the mechanism of the eye.

Includes the first description of astigmatism, with measurements and optical constants.

1801 CE

#5834.1

Ophthalmologische Beobachtungen und Untersuchungen oder Beyträge zur richtigen Kenntniss und Behandlung der Augen im gesunden und kranken Zustande. Erstes Stück.

Himly used hyoscyamine to dilate the pupil to facilitate removal of the lens. (p. 97).

1801 CE

#13846

Précis historique, physiologique et moral des principaux objets en cire préparée et coloriée d'après nature qui composent le muséum de J.-Fois. Bertrand-Rival.

Digital facsimile from BnF Gallica at this link.

1801 CE

#5835

Saggio di osservazioni e d’esperienze sulle principali malattie degli occhi.

This beautifully illustrated work was the first textbook on the subject to be published in the Italian language. Its author has been called “the father of Italian ophthalmology”. English translation, Londo…

1801 CE

#215.5

Système des animaux sans vertèbres.

The “Discours d’ouverture” contains Lamarck’s first published statement of the theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. See No. 316.

1801 CE

#1838.2

The American herbal, or materia medica.

The first herbal both produced and printed in the United States, as opposed to those which were reprints of European works. Includes information on native American remedies. Digital facsimile from the Medical Heritage…

1801 CE

#9897

The medical assistant, or Jamaica practice of physic: Designed chiefly for the use of families and plantations.

Digital facsimile from the U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

1801 CE

#8148

The statistical breviary; shewing, on a principle entirely new, the resources of every state and kingdom in Europe; illustrated with stained copperplate charts, representing the physical powers of each distinct nation with ease and perspicuity. To which is added, a similar exhibition of the ruling powers of Hindoostan.

In this work Playfair invented the pie chart. It has also been suggested that Playfair, often short of funds, may have colored the charts in all the copies himself—the process he characterized as "staining" in t…

1801 CE

#4922

Traité médico-philosophique sur l’aliénation mentale ou la manie.

Pinel founded the French School of Psychiatry. He was among the first to treat the insane humanely; he dispensed with chains and placed his patients under the care of specially selected physicians. Garrison considered…

1801 CE

#5836

Ueber Nachstaar und Iritis nach Staaroperationen.

Inflammation of the iris was named iritis by Schmidt. In 1801, with Himly, he founded the first journal devoted to ophthalmology, the Ophthalmologische Bibliothek. Digital facsimile of Schmidt's 1801 work from the Int…

1801 CE

#1988.1

Versuche des Galvanismus zur Heilung einiger Krankheiten.

Grapengiesser was the first physician to use Volta’s “pile”, the first battery, which Volta first described in print in 1800. Grapengiesser “noted that in paralyzed muscle excitability could be…

1801 CE–1802 CE

#8579

Abstract of the answers and returns made pursuant to an act, passed in the forty-first year of His Majesty King George III. Intituled, “An act for taking an account of the population of Great Britain, and the increase or diminution thereof.” 2 vols. in 3.

The first census of England, Scotland and Wales. The study of population was one of the major concerns of political economy at this time and the first census came at a crucial point in the debate. When Malthus publish…

1801 CE–1803 CE

#1315

Traité d’anatomie descriptive. 5 vols.

Bichat was the creator of descriptive anatomy. He introduced the terms “animal” and “vegetative” system. This was his last work, unfinished at his death. Vol. 4 was prepared by Bichat's student…

1801 CE–1808 CE

#2926

The principles of surgery. 3 vols.

John Bell, the Scottish anatomist and brother of Charles Bell, is regarded as a founder of surgical anatomy. He was first to ligate the gluteal artery (Vol. I, pp, 421-26), and tied the common carotid and internal ili…

1801 CE–1821 CE

#6750.3

Repertorium commentationum a societatibus litterariis editarum. 16 vols.

A classified subject index to the contents of learned society journals to the end of the 18th century. Vols. 10-16 deal with medicine and surgery. Reprinted, New York, Franklin, 1961.

1802 CE

#9581

An entire, new, and original work; being a complete treatise upon spinae pedum; containing several important discoveries. Illustrated with copperplates exhibiting the different species of spinae.

The first original British work on podiatry, with several illustrations, one hand-colored. Disappointed at being refused a medical degree, Lion, a German Jewish émigré, wrote this book, taking the unusua…

1802 CE

#7971

Ausführliche Beschreibung und Abbildung der beiden sogenannten Stachelschweinmenschen aus der bekannten engelischen Familie Lambert, oder, the porcupine man.

Tilesius continued the study of the Lambert family of sufferers from ichthyosis hystrix begun by Machin and Baker (see No. 4013). Notably Tilesius illustrated the bizarre condition with several color plates. In 2016 o…

1802 CE

#13434

Catalogue des livres de la bibliothèque de feu C. L. L'Héritier de Brutelle... par G. Debure, l'aîné. Avec un extrait de l'eloge du Citoyen l'Héitier par le Citoyen Cuvier...

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1802 CE

#2207

Commentarii de morborum historia et curatione.

Samuel Johnson called Heberden “the last of our learned physicians”. The above work included all his important papers, which had earned him his great reputation, and which are dealt with elsewhere in this …

1802 CE

#1676

Epidemiologia española o historia cronológica de las pestes, contagios, epidemias y epizootias que han acaecido en España: Desde la venida de los cartagineses hasta el año 1801.... 2 vols.

A chronological history of epidemics (plagues, contagions and epizootics) occurring in Spain to the end of the 18th century. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1802 CE

#7067

Harmonie hydro-végétale et météorologique, ou recherches sur les moyens de recréer avec nos forêts la force des températures et la régularité des saisons, par des plantations raisonnées. 2 vols.

Rauch was particularly concerned with deforestation, which not only affected the agriculture and scenery of the countryside, but also the whole ecological balance of crops, flora and fauna, and human interaction with …