An Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology. Being the Two Introductory Lectures Delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons on the 21st and 25th of March, 1816; [bound with] Physiological Lectures, Exhibiting a General View of Mr Hunter's Physiology, and of His Researches in Comparative Anatomy, Delivered Before The Royal College of Surgeons.

LAWRENCE, William, & John Abernethy.

Published by London: J. Callow, Medical Bookseller; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1816 & 1817

First editions of Lawrence's lectures rejecting vitalism and Abernethy's subsequent lectures criticizing him. Lawrence's espousal of materialism, although extremely controversial at the time, foreshadowed the later scientific naturalism of Darwin and Wallace. "His work served as a pipeline through which important concepts of heredity and variation were able to feed directly into the mainstream of evolutionary theory" (Wells, pp. 360-1). In 1813, Lawrence (1783-1867) was appointed assistant surgeon to Abernethy (1764-1831) at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. He was renowned for his public anatomy demonstration and in 1815 became Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons. An Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, his inaugural lectures, quickly became infamous for their espousal of the materialism that he anatomical dissection had convinced him of. Abernethy was one of the first to publicly attack Lawrence, insisting in his Physiological Lectures that there was instead a vitilistic cause at the root of consciousness and life, a view he ascribed to the surgeon John Hunter (1728-1793). Although Abernethy did not refer to Lawrence by name, he opposed all "modern sceptics" who questioned Hunterian doctrine and the established order: "Abernethy appealed to the nationalistic prejudices of his audience - as well as to their fears about social stability - by suggesting that scepticism was a typically French philosophy, which had helped to prepare the way for the revolution" (ODNB). Public controversy reached its peak in 1819 when Lawrence published his second book, The Natural History of Man, which was withdrawn from circulation and resulted in his condemnation as a blasphemous atheist. Supported by some, including William Godwin and Richard Carlile, and even compared to Galileo by contemporary magazines, Lawrence was nonetheless reviled by the secular and spiritual establishment. His career was stalled until he retracted his views, after which he enjoyed a successful life, rising to the Presidency of the Royal College of Surgeons, Serjeant Surgeon to Queen Victoria, and a baronet. Darwin certainly read Lawrence - making several comments on his works in his notebooks and explicitly referencing him in The Descent of Man (1871, p. 118) - yet overall found his theories too primitive (Wells, p. 337). Wallace responded far more positively, and in 1845 implored Bates to "read Lawrence's work - it is well worth it" (ibid., p. 341). Lawrence's theories also filtered into the literary culture of the time; in late 1815, he acted as personal physician to Mary and Percy Shelley. The couple likely attended his lectures before they went to Geneva in the summer of 1816, and his book probably influenced discussions at the Villa Diodati on the "origins of life" that led to the writing of Frankenstein. Kentwood D. Wells, "Sir William Lawrence (1783-1867): A Study of Pre-Darwinian Ideas on Heredity and Variation", Journal of the History of Biology, vol. 4, no. 2, 1971. Two works bound in a single vol., octavo (212 x 131 mm). Bound together in contemporary half calf, flat spine ruled in gilt separating six compartments, two black morocco labels lettered in gilt, marbled paper sides, red speckled edges. Charing Cross Hospital Medical School bookplate on front pastedown, stamps of same to endpapers and occasionally contents including title page of first work. Extremities worn, gilt rules faded, labels chipped, not affecting text, abrasion to boards, head of front joint and front inner hinge split but holding firm, cords sometimes visible, occasional faint pencil underlining to contents but overall internally clean: a very good copy. Seller Inventory # 169258

Bibliographic Details

Title: An Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and ...
Publisher: London: J. Callow, Medical Bookseller; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1816 & 1817
Edition: 1st Edition