TREMBLEY Abraham Mémoires pour servir à l’histoire d’un genre de Polypes d’eau douce

Nissen, ZBI, 4163; see Garrison-Morton, 307.

First edition in this 12mo format, immediately produced after the first edition in 4to format published in Leyden the same year.

It was in these memoirs that Abraham Tremblay (1710-1784) describes his discovery of the the hydra, a freshwater polyp that he observed for more than three years as tutor to the son of an earl who owned an estate with a pond and streams. His observations and experiments are meticulously recorded with a particularly enlightened mind.
After mistaking the hydra for a plant, Tremblay realised that he was dealing with an animal that could move with its tentacles (the horns) and that was photosensitive, instinctively moving towards the brightest spot. Through a series of intelligent experiments, he found that the hydra had the power to regenerate itself through cell division, and finally that the hydra could reproduce asexually.
Tremblay’s studies were well received by his contemporaries, but were soon forgotten, certainly because they competed with Réaumur’s work. Modern zoology rehabilitated the importance of his work and the quality of his experiments.

“Trembley discovered the hydra and was the first to observe in it asexual reproduction, regeneration, and photosensitivity in an animal without eyes. His experiments were of great importance in the study of regeneration of lost parts. He was the first to make permanent grafts and to witness cell-division” (Garrison-Morton).

“Trembley devoted much time ti a detailed study of the building processes, regenarion, and the artificial production of monsters. He then set to work to find out whether multiplication by division could be achieved in reverse, that is, whether two hydras could be transformed into one… The first permanent graft of animal tissues, was done in October 1742” (DSB).

The book is richly illustrated with 20 engraved folding plates.

The study consists of 4 separate memoirs, the first of which contains a description of polyps, the second describes their food, the cause of their colour, etc., the third discusses the generation of polyps, and finally the fourth and last with descriptions of the operations and their results.

Nice copy well preserved in an armorial binding.