MATTEUCCI, CH. (CARLO). - MATTEUCCI'S "RHEOSCOPIC FROG-EFFECT"

Sur le courant électrique des muscles des animaux vivants ou récemment tués. Extrait d'une Lettre à M. de Humboldt).

(Paris, Bachelier), 1841. 4to. No wrappers. In "Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences", Vol. 16, No 4. Pp. (151-) 214. (Entire issue offered). Matteucci's paper: pp. 197-200. Some faint brownspots.

First appearance of a classic paper in electrophysiology in which Matteucci's "rheoscopic frog-effect" is described for the first time.

"Matteucci began in 1830 a series of experiments which he pursued until his death in 1865. Using a sensitive galvanometer of Leopoldo Nobili, he was able to prove that injured excitable biological tissues generated direct electrical currents, and that they could be summed up by adding elements in series, like in Alessandro Volta’s (1745-1827) electric pile. Thus, Mateucci was able to develop what he called a "rheoscopic frog", by using the cut nerve of a frog’s leg and its attached muscle as a kind of sensitive electricity detector. His work in bioelectricity influenced directly the research developed by Emil du Bois-Reymond..." (Wikipedia).

Garrison & Morton No 608.

Order-nr.: 47223