BERNARD, CLAUDE - "THE MOST COMPLETE STATEMENT OF THE FUNCTION OF THE PANCREAS"

Mémoire sur le pancréas et sur le role du suc pancréatique dans les phénomènes digestifs, particulièrement dans la digestion des matières grasses neutres.

(Paris, Mallet-Bachelier), 1856. 4to. No wrappers. In: "Supplément aux Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences", Tome Premier. With half-title and title-page to Tome I. Pp. 379-563 and 9 engraved plates (4 handcoloured). A punched stamp to lower margin of title-page. Clean and fine.

First printing of this celebrated memoir in which Bernard describes his importent invesigations on the function of the liver, the pancreas and the pancreatic juices.

"In 1846 Bernard began studying the pancreatic juices and their role in digestion,.... By observing the processes of digestion in dogs and rabbits, and by experimentation with pure pancreatic juices collected from temporary pancreatic fistulae, Bernard was able to show that pancreatic juices made fats absorbable by breaking them down into fatty acids and glycerine. In 1856 he published his most complete statement of the function of the pancreas, "Mémoire sur le pancréas et sur le role du suc pancréatique dans les phénomènes digestifs, particulièrement dans la digestion des matières grasses neutres." This appered in Volume I of the supplement to the "Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences", and it was also published as a separate edition in book form."(Norman p. 247).

Norman "One Hundred Books Famous in Medicine", No 67 B. -

Order-nr.: 49471