Together 9 volumes. Several engraved plates including the often lacking portrait frontispiece in Volume 1. (4to) 24.5x19.5 cm. (9¾x7¾") uniform period half calf and mottled boards, spines ruled in gilt, red and black labels. Vols. I-V are the first edition; Vols. VI-VIII are the second, revised and enlarged edition; Vol. IX (the second title) is a First Edition.
The first comprehensive treatise of physiology, with much of the information coming directly from research work done by Haller himself, mostly conducted at Göttingen. “This massive work, containing structural, physiological and chemical analysis of every part of the body, constituted Haller’s most important contribution to the development of physiology. It included his work on muscle irritability, nutrition, reproduction, the circulatory system, respiration, excretion and secretion, and psychobiology, with all reported theories and experiments supported by copious notes and references. Haller reported several physiologiocal discoveries in this work that were later forgotten, to be rediscovered only many years later; among these were his myogenic theory of the heartbeat and the role of bile in the digestion of fats.”--Norman Library 975. “Haller synthesized the whole physiological knowledge of his time. In the above, probably his greatest work, Haller included some anatomical descriptions which were most valuable. He is said to have written more than 1300 scientific papers.”--Garrison-Morton 588, (listing the first edition as Lausanne, Berne, 1757-1766); Blake, p. 195 (listing a mixed set identical to this); Wellcome, III, p. 199; Blocker, p. 177; Heirs of Hippocrates 557; Neu 1823 (also listing a mixed set identical to this); Osler 1148; Reynolds, I, 1812; Waller 4007; British Library Catalogue (Readex edition), Vol. 11, p. 540, col. 447 (also listing a mixed set identical to this); Lundsgaard-Fischer, Haller Bibliography, 284; DSB, VI, pp. 61-67; Hirsch, III, pp. 33-35.
Condition:
Bindings moderately rubbed and scuffed at the extremities; corners rubbed and bumped, top inch of front joint on Vol. V cracked, a few others just a bit tender; occasional light browning in some volumes; just a bit of light marginal staining here and there, not affecting the text or plates; some tearing to the first folding plate in Vol. VI, not affecting the images; very good.