VIRCHOW, Rudolf (1821-1902)

First edition of one of the most important works in the history of medicine – the foundation stone of cellular pathology. Virchow early on doubted the spontaneous generation theory and disproved this concept by demonstrating conclusively that cells multiply by division. Although others had claimed that cells arise only from cells, he was the first to apply this doctrine to pathological material. According to Virchow’s theory, which is based on his famous dictum, Omnis cellula e cellula (all cells orginate from other cells), the seat of disease should always be sought in the cell, and the morphologic products and morbid phenomena of disease are nothing but the manifestation of the reaction of cells to the causes of disease. By applying the cell theory of Schleiden and Schwann to pathology he transferred medicine from its ancient foundation on the four humours of the Greeks to a new foundation, the fundamental unit of modern biology, the cell, and transferred pathology itself into a modern science. Virchow’s book, Die Cellularpathologie caused a revolution in medical thought.

Collation: Pp (4), v-xvi, 440. With 144 figures in the text.

Binding: Contemporary black half calf, gilt. Rebacked with the original spine laid down (the author's name is misspelled "Vircow"...).

References: Garrison-Morton 2299; Horblit, One Hundred Books Famous in Science, 99; Printing and the Mind of Man, 307 c; Grolier, One Hundred Books Famous in Medicine, 69; Haskell, Norman Library 2156; Osler 1624; DSB, XIV, 39-44; Eimas, Heirs of Hippocrates, 1892; Rather, A Commentary on the Medical Writings of Rudolf Virchov, 319; Dibner, Heralds of Science, 132; Hagelin Rare and Important Medical Books, KIB, 172-73.Christie’s Norman 1332.   Waller 9996.