Exercitationes de Generatione Animalium

1651

Health Sciences Historical Collection WZ250 H342 1651

[Amsterdam]: Joannem Ravesteynium

Although William Harvey (1578-1657) is best remembered for discovering the circulation of the blood, he also studied embryology. Exercitationes de Generatione Animalium, published in 1651, summarizes his work. In it, he discusses conception, embryogenesis, and spontaneous generation. In the frontispiece, we see Zeus opening an egg out of which everything springs: plants, fish, snakes, birds, as well as humans.