Dissertationes tres. De Aponi thermis, de nonnullis insectis terrestribus, & zoophytis marinis, & de vermium terrae reproductione, atque Taenia Canis.
8vo (20.3 x 12.6 cm). vi, [1], 167, [12] pp., frontispiece, engraved vignette on title-page, and five folding engraved plates. Bound in vellum over boards. Excellent. First edition. Bound last is Vandelli’s dissertation is on worms. Although it is now commonplace to dissect the earthworm in school biology classes, in 1758 this subject had not yet been sufficiently studied in laboratories. Vandelli was an early student of the lowly worm. The first of the three monographs in this book reflects a continuing interest of Vandelli in mineral baths - he published at least two other works on the subject and an uncle, Girolamo Vandelli, another. The essay on four mineral baths of northern Italy (pp. 1-66) studies their qualities, mineral content, and the plant life in each and is illustrated with a folded plate. The second “dissertation” (pp. 67-97) treats a variety of marine fauna. Depicted on plates II and III, these range from barnacles to small protozoa-like creatures. As protozoa were not identified until much later in the century, this seems an early step in this important area of study.
* Blake p. 469.
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