BERNARD, CLAUDE. - THE DISCOVERY AND ISOLATION OF GLYCOGENE.

Sur le mécanisme de la formation du sucre dans le foie. (+) Suite Sur le mécanisme... (+) Remarques sur la formation de la matière glycogène du foie. (3 Papers).

Paris, Mallet-Bachelier, 1855 a. 1857. 4to. No wrappers. In: "Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences", Tome 41, No 13 and Tome 44, No 12 a. No. 26. Pp. 461-500, pp. 578-640 a. pp. 1293-1363 (3 entire issues offered). Bernard's papers: pp. 461-469, pp. 578-586 a. pp. 1325-1331. Some scattered brownspots to the first paper.

First printing of these two milestone-papers in physiology in which Bernard discovers and isolates glycogen from the liver, shows that it is converted into blood glucose, and discovers the process of gluconeogenesis. He further creates the concepts "experimental determination" and "local interieur"

Bernard undertook the task of tracing out the various transformations of food stuffs within the animal organism, beginning with the carbohydrates; and he not only found, contrary to the accepted view, that sugar was formed in the liver, but he was also able to isolate a substance from the hepatic tissue which, though not sugar, was converted by fermentation into dextrose. He made a special study of its properties and called it "glycogen".

"The culmination of Bernard's work on the glycogenic function of the liver. He invented the term "internal secretion", and can be said to have started the scientific investigation of the internal secretions, although for 30 years the significance of his work was not generally realized. By his research on glycogene Bernard showed that the body not only can break down, but can also build up, complex chemical substances."(Garrison & Morton) .

Claude Bernard (1813-78) was a key figure in French nineteenth-century science, and one of the world's great physiologists. With good reason he has been called the ‘father of experimental medicine’.

Garrison & Morton No. 1000 a. 999.1

Order-nr.: 47110