BOYLE, Robert (1627 – 1691)

1660

#914

New experiments physico-mechanical touching the spring of the air.

Boyle showed the effects of the elasticity, compressibility, and weight of air. He investigated the function of air in respiration, combustion, and conveyance of sound. Most significantly Boyle demonstrated that air i…

1661

#665.1

Certain physiological essays.

In this prelude to Boyle’s Sceptical chymist Boyle describes his corpuscular view of digestion, “giving recognition to the existence of the agents now designated the ‘enzymes’ ” (Fulton, Bibliography of Robert Boyle […

1662

#666

A defence of the doctrine touching the spring and weight of the air.

Boyle’s law. The above pamphlet was appended to the second edition of Boyle’s The spring and weight of the air, 1662. The relevant passage is reproduced inj. F. Fulton’s Selected readings in the history of physiology,…

1684

#861

Memoirs for the natural history of humane blood, especially the spirit of that liquor.

The first analysis of blood, Boyle’s Memoirs may be considered the first scientific study in physiological chemistry, exhibiting methods which have become universally adopted. This is Boyle’s most important medical work.

1685

#11557

Of the reconcileableness of specifick medicines to the corpuscular philosophy to which is annexed a discourse about the advantages of the use of simple medicines.

In this work on drug action or pharmacodynamics Boyle argued that remedies composed of only one or two ingredients were preferable to more complex drugs for two reasons. First, because the patient would experience few…

1961

#11201

A bibliography of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Fellow of the Royal Society. Second edition

1999 –2000

#9573

The works of Robert Boyle. Edited by Michael Hunter and Edward B. Davis. 14 vols.