Aselli, Gaspare, 1581-1626

Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden]

Ex officinâ Iohannis Maire

1640

[8], 104, [8] p.; 19 x 14 cm

anatomia:RBAI090

Aselli studied medicine at the University of Pavia before moving to Milan, where he distinguished himself as a leading surgeon. He re-discovered the chylous vessels, which he first noticed while carrying out a vivisection on a dog, and was the first to describe their function. He traced the course of the chylous vessels to the mesenteric glands. The first edition of De lactibus in 1621 is also noteworthy as the first medical book to be illustrated with colour plates, in this instance, chiaroscuro woodcuts, which attempt to distinguish the various types of vessels through colour. Subsequent editions of the work lack the chiaroscuro plates, having been replaced by copper plate engravings

Heirs of Hippocrates 284; DSB.

Academy of Medicine Collection

Maire, Joannes