BARTHEZ P.J Nouvelle méchanique des mouvements de l’homme et des animaux.

Waller, 697; Wellcome p.106.

First edition

Important work on the vitalist physiology of muscular contraction.

Barthez introduced the term “principe vital” as the principle that directs the phenomena of life, and he applied it to the study of movements: walking, jumping, swimming, etc.

Divided into six sections, the last one is particularly devoted to the flight of birds, a theme very dear to Tissandier who had built up a large collection of books and objects relating to aerostatic flight.

A fine copy from the Tissandier collection (note on the endpaper). Spine rebound in style.