Brugnone - Ippometria - 1802

Horse science during the Napoleonic era: the birth of modern veterinary medicine
A treatise of extraordinary importance for 19th-century veterinary medicine and hippology, conceived as a didactic manual for students of the Veterinary School of Turin. Giovanni Brugnone proposes a systematic analysis of the external conformation of the horse, donkey, and mule, classifying their virtues and faults, and offering objective criteria for evaluation at the time of purchase. The work is set within the vibrant scientific context of the Napoleonic era, witnessing the birth of modern veterinary medicine, closely intertwined with the military and economic needs of the period.
Market value
The work is uncommon on the antique market. Complete and well-preserved specimens, like the one described here, range between 400 and 700 euros. Its academic provenance and the scientific importance of the treatise increase its collectible value, especially when paired with other contemporary equestrian texts.

Physical description and condition
Title page and typographic text well preserved. Contemporary leather binding with decorated spine and gold title. Some normal signs of aging, boards and spine with slight wear and chipping, but overall in good condition. Pp. (2); 128; (2).

Full title and author
Ippometria.
Turin, From the types by Felice Buzan, 1802.
Giovanni Brugnone

Context and Significance
The treatise was originally conceived as an educational tool for students of the Veterinary School of Turin, one of the earliest institutions of its kind in Italy. Hipometry, a technical term referring to the measurement and assessment of horse proportions, is developed here in an organized and systematic manner, representing a turning point from the empirical tradition of equestrian art. Brugnone introduces a more scientific and objective approach, marking the transition towards modern animal husbandry. The text also reflects the military needs of Napoleon, for whom the careful selection of horses was a strategic matter.
Giovanni Brugnone proposes a systematic analysis of the external conformation of the horse, donkey, and mule, classifying their strengths and weaknesses, and offering objective criteria for evaluation at the time of purchase. The work is set within the vibrant scientific context of the Napoleonic age, witnessing the birth of modern veterinary medicine, closely intertwined with the military and economic needs of the era.

Author Biography
Giovanni Brugnone (second half of the 18th – early 19th century) was a professor of practical and comparative anatomy at Turin University, as well as the chief instructor at the National Veterinary School. With Ippometria, he contributed to the education of generations of students, laying the foundations for a scientific veterinary culture in Italy.

Printing history and circulation
Printed in Turin in 1802, during the brief period of the Subalpine Republic, the volume also testifies to the adoption of the French revolutionary calendar. The print run, intended for a limited audience of students and professionals, was probably small, making the work quite rare today on the antiquarian market and in libraries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
See ICCU (SBN) for copies preserved in Italy; nineteenth-century veterinary and equine catalogs; A. Sella, Italian Veterinary Bibliography, Turin 1882.