PORTA, Luigi.

Milano: Tipografia di Giuseppe Bernardoni di Gio, .1845

Large 4to, pp. x, 439, (1), and 13 aquatint plates (all but one folding). Half-title. Original(?) vellum, bevelled edges. A little foxing in the text, binding a little soiled and slightly rubbed on the spine, otherwise a very good copy.

FIRST EDITION of Porta’s most important book. “By his research on the pathological changes caused to arteries by ligation and torsion he contributed to establishing the foundations of modern vascular surgery. “Beginning in 1835 he made an extensive series of animal experiments on more than 270 animals of various species. He continued these investigations for nine years, and his results, coupled with his clinical observations, led him to significant discoveries concerning experimentally induced pathological changes of the arteries. Among these, his findings on the manner in which collateral circulation is established following the obliteration of parts of the arteries are of particular interest. “In his work Porta distinguished between direct collateral circulation,... and indirect collateral circulation... He also made a distinction between two types of anastomosis produced by ligation of the artery...” (DSB, abbreviated from a long description of Porta’s work in this field). The plates of arteries in this book are of superb quality. Porta was Scarpa’s successor at Pavia, where he created the Anatomico-Surgical Museum.

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