Thomas Willis - Opera Omnia 1° volume - 1695

Ginevra: apud Samuelem de Tournes, 1695. in-4°. [223 x 200 mm]. Number of leaves: VOLUME I: [6], [24], 254, [2] [16], 176 p.: 21, [1] p., [16], 214, [2]; [4], 63, [5] p., [2].
Volume I: Good condition, Frontispiece in red and black with a beautiful typographic mark, some foxing and stains more pronounced on some pages but the book is fresh and easily readable, no loss. Original binding in old parchment and title handwritten on the spine, with signs of use and a loss at the top of the spine but binding securely attached. Also present are the beautiful engraved plates, folded several times outside the text (see photo).
In addition to his invaluable work on the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, Willis was the first to distinguish true diabetes mellitus and demonstrated that polyuria was not due to any kidney disease. He anticipated the recognition of circulating hormones, suggested that the phenomena of puberty were due to a ferment distributed throughout the body from the genitals, discovered the superficial lymphatic vessels of the lungs, distinguished acute tuberculosis from chronic fibromas and gave the first clinical and pathological description of emphysema. The modern treatment of asthma truly begins with Willis, who regarded it as of nervous origin... Willis was probably the first to report an epidemic of cerebrospinal fever.