FOURCROY, [Antoine François] de, and [Jean Jacques] DELAPORTE.

A Paris: Chez Cuchet… .1788

8vo, 2 leaves, pp. (vii)–xx, 385, (1). Half-title, woodcut head- and tailpiece. Contemporary sheep-backed boards, flat spine gilt with red morocco label (upper joint cracked and a little loose, short crack at top of lower joint, head of spine worn, label chipped). Library stamp on half-title, faintly on the title, and lower corner of a few other pages.

FIRST EDITION. At the behest of the Faculty of Medicine, and “with the collaboration of Delaporte (of the Royal Society of Medicine) Fourcroy made very detailed analyses of the waters of Enghien, in the valley of Montmorency, and a large quantity was brought to Paris for further study. A full account of these waters was read by Fourcroy at ten successive meetings of the society and subsequently published in the present book… A balneological and analytical chemical classic, which is ‘entirely chemical in content’ (Duveen)” (Neville). As a result of this analysis the waters were recommended for various ailments, and Enghien developed into a fashionable resort. The book includes two further studies, on the waters of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (by Chappon), and Vaugirard. Cole 486. Duveen p. 225. Neville I, p. 474. Smeaton, Fourcroy, pp. 21–22 and 115–117 for a full account of this highly detailed book; bibliography no. 30.

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