1650 Danielis Sennerti Vratislaviensis, Doctoris et Professoris Medicinae in Academia Wittenbergensi: Operum; Tomus Primus: quo continentur: Epitome Scientiae Naturalis, Hypomnemata Physica, De Consensu & Dissensu Chymicorum cum Galenicis, De Origine Animarum in Brutis; Editio Nouissima, Caeteris Omnibus Auctior & Correctior; Quantum verò reliquis locupletior sit, patet ex Monito Bibliopolarum post dedicatoriam epistolam.

Description

Early Edition, Very Scarce

In Latin. Including his Epitome scientiae naturalis ( first published in 1618), De Consensu & Dissensu Chymicorum cum Galenicis, De Origine Animarum in Brutis and his Hypomnemata physicae (first published in 1636) Sennert is notable for his contributions to the development of an early version of atomic theory. Specifically, he forms an intermediate bridge between the works of Geber and the more recognized Corpuscularianists such as Robert Boyle. Corpuscularianism differs from modern atomic theory in a number of significant ways, most noticeably a lack of a mathematical argument for its existence, something Sennert specifically rejected. Sennert is a intermediate step between corpsucular particle theory and Aristotelian forms. The same works that are often sited as demonstrating his early atomist views also emphasize the importance of substantial forms. Sennert’s theories were based on an experiential and experimental evidence that he gathered both from eyewitness accounts and his own laboratory experience. One of Sennert’s most notable experiments was a variation on the “reduction to the pristine state.” Taking an alloy of gold and silver, the silver was dissolved from the alloy in aqua fortis. In the classic “reduction to the pristine state,” the silver was then precipitated out of the aqua fortis by the addition of salt of tartar and then heated in a crucible to return it to its recognizable metallic form. Sennert’s innovation on this experiment was the addition of pouring the silver-aqua fortis solution through a paper filter before precipitating the silver from the solution. This experiment was used as evidence that the silver remained in the mixture in the form of minuscule particles, rather than dissolving into its Aristotelian components. It appears to have inspired similar experiments on the part of Richard Boyle and others used to establish acceptance of Corpuscularianism. With decorative head-and-tailpieces, and vignette red-and-black title pages. Frontispiece engraving of the author to volume I is missing. Complete in three volumes.