An Interactive Annotated World Bibliography of Printed and Digital Works in the History of Medicine and the Life Sciences from Circa 2000 BCE to 2022 by Fielding H. Garrison (1870-1935), Leslie T. Morton (1907-2004), and Jeremy M. Norman (1945- ) Traditionally Known as “Garrison-Morton”

15961 entries, 13944 authors and 1935 subjects. Updated: March 22, 2024

HOOKE, Robert

5 entries
  • 262

Micrographia, or some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses; with observations and inquiries thereupon.

London: J. Martyn & J. Allestry, 1665.

Hooke, at one time research assistant to Robert Boyle, was one of the greatest inventive geniuses of all time. This was the first book devoted entirely to microscopical observations, and also the first book to pair its microscopic descriptions with profuse and detailed illustrations. The 38 copperplate engravings in the book were mostly after drawings by Hooke; some were probably after drawings by the architect and occasional scientist, Sir Christopher Wren. This graphic portrayal of the hitherto unknown microcosm had an impact rivalling that of Galileo's Sidereus nuncius (1610), which was the first book to include images of the macrocosm shown through the telescope. It was also the second book published under the auspices of the Royal Society of London.

Hooke constructed one of the most famous of the early compound microscopes, and began his observations with studies of non-living materials, such as woven cloth and frozen urine crystals, then proceeded to investigations of plant and animal life. He published the first studies of insect anatomy, giving a lucid account of the compound eye of the fly, and illustrating the microscopic details of such structures as apian wings, flies' legs and feet, and the sting of the bee. His famous and dramatic portraits of the flea and louse, a frightening eighteen inches long, are hardly less startling today than they must have been to Hooke's contemporaries. His botanical observations include the first description of the plant-like form of molds, and of the honeycomb-like structure of cork, which last he described as being composed of "cellulae"— thereby coining the modern biological usage of the work "cell" to describe the basic microscopic units of tissue. Digital facsimile from the National Library of Medicine at this link.

 

 

 



Subjects: BIOLOGY, BIOLOGY › Cell Biology, COMPARATIVE ANATOMY, Microscopy
  • 916

An account of an experiment of preserving animals alive by blowing through their lungs with bellows.

Phil. Trans., 2, 539-40, 1667.

By blowing air from a bellows over the exposed lungs of a dog, Hooke proved that respiratory motion is not necessary to maintain life, but that the essential feature of respiration lies in certain blood changes in the lungs. Reprinted in J. F. Fulton’s Selected readings in the history of physiology, 2nded., 1966, pp. 121-23.



Subjects: PHYSIOLOGY, RESPIRATION
  • 13233

Microscopium, or some new discoveries made with and concerning microscopes. Lectures and Collections made by Robert Hooke, Secretary of the Royal Society, pages 81-112.

London: John Martyn, Printer to the Royal Society, 1678.

On his title page Hooke listed the contents of this section as follows:

"Mr. Leeuwenhoeck's two letters concerning some late microscopical discoveries.
"The author's discourse and description of microscopes, improved for discerning the nature and texture of bodies.
"P. Cherubine's accusations answered.
"Mr. Young's letter containing several anatomical observations."

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.



Subjects: Microscopy
  • 11202

A bibliography of Dr. Robert Hooke by Geoffrey Keynes, Kt.

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1960.


Subjects: BIBLIOGRAPHY › Bibliographies of Individual Authors, BIOLOGY › History of Biology, NATURAL HISTORY › History of Natural History
  • 8753

The library of Robert Hooke: The scientific book trade of Restoration England.

Santa Monica, CA: Modoc Press, 1989.

Reprints the auction catalogue of Hooke's library: Bibliotheca Hookiana (1703).



Subjects: BIBLIOGRAPHY › Catalogues of Physicians' / Scientists' Libraries