Facets

1857

#10427

Der Staat Californien in medicinisch-geographischer Hinsicht.

Dr. Praslow practiced medicine in San Francisco from 1849-1856, after which he returned to Germany. His book provides information concerning health and epidemics in San Francisco during this early period. Translated i…

1857 –1859

#10514

Report on the United States and Mexican boundary survey: Made under the direction of the secretary of the Interior

Vol. 1, pt. by W. H. Emory. Vol. 1, pt. 2: Geological reports by C.C. Parry and Arthur Schott, notes by W. H. Emory; Paleontology and geology of the boundary by James Hall; Description of cretaceous and tertiary fossi…

1857

#11806

Omphalos: An attempt to untie the geological knot.

In Omphalos, published in 1857, two years before the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, Gosse attempted to reconcile the paleontological record with creationist religious beliefs by arguing that the fos…

1857

#12091

Climatology of the United States, and of the temperate latitudes of the North American Continent. Being a full comparison of these with the climatology of the temperate latitudes of Europe and Asia. And especially in regard to agriculture, sanitary investigations, and engineering. With isothermal and rain charts for each season, the extreme months, and the year...

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1858

#204

Zur Kenntniss der ältesten Rassenschädel.

The first comprehensive description of the Neanderthal skull, following Schaaffhausen’s and Fuhlrott’s preliminary announcements of the discovery in the Verhandlungen des naturhistorischen Vereines der preussischen Rh…

1858

#6757

Graphische lncunabeln für Naturgeschichte und Medicin. Enthaltend Geschichte und Bibliographie der ersten naturhistorischen und medicinischen Drucke des XV. und XVI. Jahrhunderts, welche mit illustrirenden Abbildungen versehen sind.

Reprint, Munich, 1924, Hildesheim, 1963.

1858

#9178

On the general geographical distribution of the members of the class Aves.

Sclater defined and named six zoological regions: the Palaearctic, Aethiopian, Indian, Australasian, Nearctic and Neotropical. With some name revision (Afrotropic for Aethiopian, and Indomalayan for Indian,) these zoo…

1859

#2473

Nouveaux faits pour server à l’histoire de la levure lactique.

This and the preceding entry mark Pasteur’s commencement of the study of fermentation. This paper described Pasteur’s method of cultivating micro-organisms in a medium free of organic nitrogen to produce fermentations…

1859

#219

On the tendency of species to form varieties: and on the perpetuation of varieties and species by natural means of selection.

The first printed exposition of the “Darwinian” theory of evolution by natural selection. Had not Wallace independently discovered the theory of natural selection, it is possible that the extremely cautious Darwin mig…

1859

#220

On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life.

Prepared under the advice of Lyell and Hooker, and brought to press soon after publication of the joint paper by Darwin and Wallace (No. 219), this was Darwin’s greatest work and one of the most important books ever p…

1859

#7251

Menschliche Ueberreste aus einer Felsengrotte des Düssenthals. Ein Beitrag zur Frage über die Existenz fossiler Menschen.

Fuhlrott’s first detailed account of the “Neanderthal 1” skeleton discovered in 1856 in the Kleine Feldhofer Grotte, located in the Düssel River gorge in southwestern Germany.

1859

#7446

On the flora of Australia, its origin, affinities, and distribution; being an introductory essay to the Flora of Tasmania. Offprint from The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H. M. Discovery Ships ‘Erebus’ and ‘Terror’, Vol. III (Flora Tasmaniae), part I (June, 1859).

The first important botanical work by a supporter of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Hooker, a botanist and plant geographer, had been a close friend of Darwin for many years, and was aware of Darwi…

1859

#8212

Sketch of the medical topography, or climate and soils, of Bengal and the N.W. Provinces.

Digital facsimile from the internet Archive at this link.

1859

#9972

The natural history of the European seas. Edited and continued by Robert Godwin-Austen.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1859

#13861

Descriptive catalogue of the specimens of natural history in spirit contained in the museum Vertebrata: Pisces, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1860 –1864

#1778

Handbuch der historisch-geographischen Pathologie. 2 vols.

This is perhaps the greatest historical classic on the subject. Vol.1 appeared in 2 parts, with the first part issued in 1859 and the second part issued in 1860.

1860

#7262

On the occurrence of flint-implements, associated with the remains of animals of extinct species in beds of a late geological period, in France at Amiens and Abbeville, and in England at Hoxne.

This paper is a key record of the early recognition of the antiquity of man by the scientific establishment. Having returned from a visit to Abbeville, France, in May 1859, where he viewed the evidence for the antiqui…

1860

#10337

Ichthyology of South Carolina. Vol. 1 (All Published).

Digital facsimile from BnF Gallica at this link.

1860

#11344

On the occurrence of flint implements in undisturbed beds of gravel, sand, and clay.

In the spring of 1859, in the company of Joseph Prestwich, Evans visited Abbeville to view Boucher de Perthes’ collection of flint artifacts and to observe a hand-axe in situ at St. Acheul in a deposit containing the …

1861

#2475

Mémoire sur les corpuscles organisés qui existent dans l’atmosphère. Examen de la doctrine des générations spontanées.

In these easily reproducible experiments, prefaced by an important historical introduction, Pasteur demonstrated beyond dispute that fermentation is caused by the action of minute living organisms, and that if these a…

1861

#2475.1

Animalcules infusoires vivant sans gaz oxygène libre et déterminant des fermentations.

The discovery of strict anaerobiosis, important for general biology since it shows that oxygen gas is not a requisite for life.

1861

#4047

On a new and striking form of fungus disease, principally affecting the foot, and prevailing endemically in many parts of India.

First modern description of mycetoma of the foot – “Madura foot”, “Carter’s mycetoma”. It was mentioned by E. Kaempfer in his Amoenitates exoticae, Lemgo, 1712, p. 561. Colebrook at the Madura Dispensary is said to ha…

1861

#7608

Essays and observations on natural history, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and geology by John Hunter, F.R.S. Being his posthumous papers on those subjects, arranged and revised, with notes; to which are added the introductory lectures on the Hunterian collection of fossil remains delivered in the theatre of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, March 8th, 10th and 12th, 1855 by Richard Owen .... 2 vols.

Digital facsimiles from the Hathi Trust at this link.

1861

#8914

On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing.

Darwin's first work on plant fertilization and the first volume of evidence that he published to support the theories advanced in On the origin of species (1859). This was also the only book by Darwin that was issued …

1861

#8915

On the origin of species by means of natural selection....Third edition with additions and corrections (Seventh thousand).

Extensively revised, and the first edition to include the "historical sketch" crediting the historical precursors to the theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin added this chapter in response to writings by S…

1861

#12462

Bibliotheca zoologica. Verzeichniss der Schriften über zoologie, welche in den Periodischen werken enthalten und vom Jahre 1846-1860 selbständig erschienen Sind. Mit Einschluss der allgemein-naturgeschichtlichen periodischen und palaeontologischen Schriften. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1861

#12983

Nouvelles recherches sur la coexistence de l’homme et des grands mammifères fossiles réputés caractéristiques de la dernière période géologique.

In this lengthy paper of nearly 80 pages Lartet proposed the first chronological framework into which both human skeletal and cultural remains could be fitted, based on fossil animal bones recovered from French cave s…

1862

#220.1

Contributions to an insect fauna of the Amazon valley: Lepidoptera: Heliconidae.

Bates spent eleven years in the Amazon and there collected 8,000 species of insects new to science. In the above paper he clearly stated and solved the problem of “mimicry”, known today as “Batesian mimicry”. The supe…

1862

#220.2

On our knowledge of the causes of the phenomenon of organic nature.

This series of six lectures delivered to “working men” in November and December, 1862 includes Huxley’s first book-form exposition of Darwin’s theories, of which he was probably the greatest popular exponent. A prolif…

1862

#7792

Poetae bucolici et didactici: Theocritus, Bion, Moschus....Phile De animalibus, elephanti, plantis....

Manuel Philes of Ephesus wrote didactic poems on the characteristics of animals, chiefly based upon Aelian and Oppian, and a didactic poem of some 2000 lines, dedicated to Michael IX Palaiologos; on the elephant, and …

1862

#14045

On the extent and aims of a national museum of natural history.

Owen was the prime mover behind the construction of the Natural History Museum, a project that occupied him for over two decades. His On the Extent and Aims of a National Museum of Natural History, containing the text…

1863

#690

Zur Kenntnis der zuckerbildenden Fermente.

Investigation of the sugar-forming ferments.

1863

#2476

Nouvel exemple de fermentation determinée par des animalcules infusoires pouvant vivre sans gaz oxygène libre, et en dehors de tout contact avec l’air de l’atmosphere.

Pasteur confirmed the fact, established by Schwann (No. 674) that putrefaction was a biological process.

1863

#165

Evidence as to man’s place in nature.

Huxley showed that in the visible characters man differs less from the higher apes than do the latter from lower members of the same order of primates. He also provided the first thorough and detailed comparative desc…

1863

#204.1

The geological evidences of the antiquity of man with remarks on theories of the origin of species by variation.

Lyell’s summary discussion of the evidence for human antiquity “introduced a wide readership to the new view and to the facts that supported it, thus laying the synthetic foundation for future work” (Grayson). This wo…

1863

#3914

Letter on corpulence; address to the public.

Banting, a prominent English undertaker, and formerly obese, was the first to popularize a weight loss diet based on limiting intake of refined and easily digestible carbohydrates. He changed his diet at the suggestio…

1863

#7442

The naturalist on the river Amazons, a record of adventures, habits of animals, sketches of Brazilian and Indian life, and aspects of nature under the equator, during eleven years of travel. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1863 –1878

#9172

Flora Australiensis: A description of the plants of the Australian territory by George Bentham, assisted by Ferdinand Mueller. 7 vols.

The first comprehensive flora of any large continental area. It included descriptions of 8125 species. "Bentham prepared the flora from Kew; with Mueller, the first plant taxonomist residing permanently in Australia, …

1863

#10894

On Australasian climates and their influence in the prevention and arrest of pulmonary consumption.

Digital facsimile from wellcomecollection.org at this link.

1864 –1867

#119

The principles of biology. 2 vols.

In vol. 1 of this work written after Spencer read Darwin's On the origin of species, Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest." Spencer conceived that every species is endowed with its own type of ph…

1864

#221

Für Darwin.

Müller, the first German to support Darwin, studied the development of the Crustacea in Brazil and published some of his results in the above little book, which contains much original information. He realized the bear…

1864

#7258

Cavernes du Périgord. Objets gravés et sculptés des temps pré-historiques dans l’Europe occidentale.

In 1863 Lartet and Christy began systematically examining the caves in the Périgord (Dordogne) region of France. This study of mobiliary or portable art, such as carved stones, carved ivory, carved bones, or carved re…

1864

#8109

Le Mexique et l'Amérique tropicale: climats, hygiène et maladies.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1864

#14042

The reputed fossil man of the Neanderthal.

King believed that the Feldhofer Neanderthal skull discovered by Fuhrott and Schaafhausen differed significantly from all known ancient and modern human crania. In this paper he proposed the name Homo neanderthalensis…

1864

#14047

The origin of human races and the antiquity of man deduced from the theory of “natural selection."

Wallace delivered this paper to the polygenist Anthropological Society of London on 1 March 1864. It represents “the first effort to connect natural selection to the touchy problem of the evolution of human races” (Wa…

1865

#7257

Pre-historic times, as illustrated by ancient remains, and the manners and customs of modern savages.

Lubbock introduced the terms "Paleolithic" and "Neolithic". His work addressed not only the topic of human antiquity but also the lives and cultures of people in the Stone Age. In contrast to researchers who focused o…

1865

#8910

On the movements and habits of climbing plants.

Darwin's report on his discoveries concerning the adaptive value of climbing for certain plants, including the development of circumnutation. Darwin waited ten years to publish the first edition in book form (1875) wi…

1866 –1868

#336

On the anatomy and physiology of the vertebrates. 3 vols.

Vol. 1. Fishes and reptiles; Vol. 2. Birds; Vol. 3. Mammals. The most important work on the subject after Cuvier, based entirely on personal observations. Owen entitled his 40th and concluding chapter "Derivative hypo…

1866

#2479

Études sur le vin.

Although Pasteur’s method of preserving wine by partial heat sterilization (“pasteurization”) turned out to be a revival of Appert’s invention (No. 2467.1), Pasteur did rescue the method from oblivion and established …

1866

#222

Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden.

Discovery of the Mendelian ratios, the most significant single achievement in the history of genetics. The story of how Mendel published his paper in this relatively obscure journal only to have his discovery ignored …