CORVISART, Jean Nicolas.

A Paris: De l’Imprimerie de Migneret. 1806.1806

8vo, 3 leaves, pp. (ix)–lvi, 484, 1 leaf (errata). With the half-title and final errata leaf. Contemporary sheep-backed boards, spine with gilt centres and red morocco label, plain sides with vellum tips (small repair to foot of spine). Text slightly foxed and some very mild spotting, otherwise a nice copy. Initials S.M. in gilt at foot of spine.

FIRST EDITION. “Corvisart founded clinical cardiology and introduced percussion into the clinic after translating Auenbrugger’s book. He classed cardiac enlargement as active or passive aneurysm of the heart, and recognised the purring tremor as a sign of valvular obstruction but did not listen to the heart. His Essai was the first treatise on heart disease to conform to the pattern of a text-book and deal systematically with pericarditis, myocardial disease, carditis and aneurysm. He was physician to Napoleon and a reputed bon viveur… The first edition of Corvisart was written by Horeau from lecture notes, but later editions were by Corvisart himself” (Evan Bedford Catalogue 360). G&M 2737: “Corvisart really created cardiac symptomatology and made possible the differentiation between cardiac and pulmonary disorders.” See also Willius & Keys, Cardiac Classics, pp. 279–290 and Lilly, Notable Medical Books, 159. Norman catalogue 518.

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