Bidspirit auction | [SCIENCE AND MEDICINE] - BLONDEL

[SCIENCE AND MEDICINE] - BLONDEL Jacques (1705 - 1774) - 1737. The Imagination Of Pregnant Woman - Blondel, Jacques. ”Dissertation physique sur la force de l’imagination des femmes enceintes sur le fetus. Traduit de l’Anglois par Albert Brun.” Leyden: Langerak & Lucht, 1737. [bound with:] Mesnard, Jacques. ”La guide des accoucheurs ou le maistre dans l’art d’accoucher les femmes, et de le soulager, dans les maladies and accidens dont elle sont très-souvent attaquées: ouvrage des plus utiles pour les personnes qui veulent faire une pratique particuliére des Accouchemens, Le tout en forme d’examen”. Paris: De Bure, Le Breton, Durand, 1743. 4to, contemporary sprinkled calf, six comparments spine with floral gilt decorations, crimson morocco label and gilt title, ff. [8], pp. 175, [11]; pp. XXXII, 382, [2]. 15 folding plates representing the anatomy of the woman. First French edition of «The Strength of the Imagination of Pregnant Women», a treatise that denies the popular belief that the imagination of a pregnant woman could affect the shape of the fetus. First edition, written in a question-and-answer format, of a very reputed and innovative treatise of obstetrics. References: 1. Wellcome II, 182; Hirsch I, 574 (English edition). Blake p. 51. 2. J.H. Baas, Outlines of the History of Medicine, p. 681: «[Mesnard] was the first of the French to direct attention to the forceps in a book. The obstetric position was still upon the back with the feet drawn up against the buttocks». J.V. Ricci, Genealogy of Gynaecology, p. 486: «The use of suturing in all tears of the perineum was advocated by Jacques Mesnard of Rouen (1753). He added the suggestion that curved needles be used and that the sutures pass deeply into the flesh». Not in Garrison Morton. •⁠> This lot is located in and ships from Italy. An Italian export license is required prior to shipment, which may cause delays. The Auction House will take care of the export license at no cost to the buyer. Import duties and taxes in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility.