First edition of a Harveianum of great importance and rarity. Jean-Claude de La Courvee (ca. 1615-1664) studied medicine in Paris, and became physician to the Queen of Poland. In a publication on the use and abuse of bloodletting (Paris, 1647), he declared himself an opponent to this wide-spread practice. In the present work, the author supports William Harvey's (1578-1657) work on generation, not without being critical of several subjects. He maintains that the foetus breathes in the uterus, and feeds on the amniotic fluid. He also claims that the child contributes to his birth with his own efforts, thus advancing the delivery. La Courvee was the first to perform a successful symphysiotomy, which is described on p. 245 of the present work.
With an 18th century ownership annotation at the top of the title-page ("Ex libris Petri Dugoy Doctoris Medici 1732"), and an annotation about the author on the back end papers. The vellum is somewhat stained. The work is lightly browned throughout, with a brown stain in the lower and outer margin throughout, not affecting the text, and a few wormholes in the outer margin throughout, sometimes affecting a few letters of the printed annotations. Otherwise in good condition. Garrison & Morton 6146.1; Krivatsy 6541; USTC 2614967 (33 copies); Waller 5481; Wellcome III, p. 427; not in the Osler, Cushing and Haskell F. Norman collections.