| | Aldini, Giovanni. - Essai théorique et expérimental sur le galvanisme, avec une série d'expériences faites en présence des commissaires de l'Institut National de France, et en divers amphithéatres anatomiques de Londres. "Avec planches. Paris, de l'imprimerie de Fournier fils 1804. (6), X, 398 pages, 10 folding engraved and handcoloured plates. Cont. red morocco, gilt title, spine richly gilt. Front cover with gilt dedication by the author to Alexander I. Russian emperor. ""Alexandro I. / Inclyto Russiarum / Imperatori / Auctoris / Obsequium"". 4to. DSB I, 107-108. Ronalds 7. Poggendorff I, 27. Honeyman I, 64. Dedication-copy by the author to Alexander I. Pawlowitch (1777-1825). First edition. Large paper copy with the plates handcoloured. ""His best known work, 'Essai théorique …' (1804) appeared in two volumes and also, in the same year, as a single quarto volume, dedicated to Napoleon. … While Galvani … remained silent during the growing controversy over the true nature of his animal electricity, the effervescent Aldini became his uncle's champion-so much so that Volta addressed his arguments do Aldini instead of Galvani. Some of his more dramatic experiments involved motion in the anatomical members of a just-executed murderer and induced muscular contraction in dissected parts of sheep, oxen, and chickens"" (Dibner in DSB I, 108)." | |
