No. 95862813

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Daniel Duncan - Explication nouvelle et mechanique des actions animales - 1678
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Daniel Duncan - Explication nouvelle et mechanique des actions animales - 1678

Edition Originale très rare du premier ouvrage de Daniel Duncan (Montauban 1649- Londres 1735), médecin français d’origine écossaise. Il contient notamment le résultat des dissections sur le cerveau effectuées par l’auteur qui donne ici la première description du « Cavum Septi Pellucidi », également appelé « Ventricule de Duncan ». Daniel Duncan s’est inspiré des écrits de Thomas Willis (1621-1675) pour proposer une neurophysiologie mécaniciste de la motricité et des perceptions, plus élaborée que celle de René Descartes (1596-1650) bien qu’encore basée sur le concept “d’esprits animaux” parcourant le système nerveux sous forme “d’ondulations”. Niant le rôle que Descartes attribue à la glande pinéale comme siège de l’âme, niant toute activité aux ventricules cérébraux, Duncan assigne aux “corps cannelés”, c’est à dire aux noyaux gris centraux, et à “la substance cendrée”, le cortex, l’activité cérébrale la plus élaborée. Ces concepts font de Duncan un précurseur de notre neurophysiologie actuelle, sans négliger sa tentative de déterminer des localisations cérébrales à la mémoire et à l’imagination. Bel exemplaire en reliure d'époque, veau brun, dos orné, fleurons aux fers dorés, tranches mouchetées rouges. Etat : reliure bien conservée, petit manque de fragment en coiffe de tête, légers frottements. Intérieur frais et propre, déchirure sans manque aux pages 407 à 410. Très bon état. Daniel Duncan Explication nouvelle et mechanique des actions animales. où il est traité des fonctions de l’ame. Avec une Methode facile pour démontrer exactement toutes les parties du Cerveau, sans couper sa propre substance. Et un Discours sur sa formation Paris, Chez Jean D'Houry, 1678 in-12 (16 x 9.5 cm) ; 8ff. 447-(2) pp.

No. 95862813

Sold
Daniel Duncan - Explication nouvelle et mechanique des actions animales - 1678

Daniel Duncan - Explication nouvelle et mechanique des actions animales - 1678

Very rare first edition of the first work by Daniel Duncan (Montauban 1649 - London 1735), a French physician of Scottish origin. It notably contains the results of the dissections on the brain carried out by the author, who here gives the first description of the "Cavum Septi Pellucidi", also called "Duncan's Ventricle".

Daniel Duncan drew inspiration from the writings of Thomas Willis (1621-1675) to propose a mechanistic neurophysiology of motor skills and perceptions, more elaborate than that of René Descartes (1596-1650) although still based on the concept of “animal spirits” running through the nervous system in the form of “undulations”. Denying the role that Descartes attributes to the pineal gland as the seat of the soul, denying any activity to the cerebral ventricles, Duncan assigns the most elaborate cerebral activity to the “grooved bodies”, that is to say to the central gray nuclei, and to the “ashen substance”, the cortex.
These concepts make Duncan a precursor of our current neurophysiology, without neglecting his attempt to determine the cerebral locations of memory and imagination.

A fine copy in period binding, brown calf, decorated spine, gilt-iron fleurons, red speckled edges.
Condition: Binding well preserved, small missing fragment on headcap, slight rubbing. Fresh and clean interior, tear without loss on pages 407 to 410. Very good condition.

Daniel Duncan
New and mechanical explanation of animal actions. Where the functions of the soul are treated. With an easy method for demonstrating exactly all the parts of the brain, without cutting its own substance. And a discourse on its formation.
Paris, At Jean D'Houry's, 1678
in-12 (16 x 9.5 cm); 8ff. 447-(2) pp.

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