A New Essay on Muscular Motion. Founded on Experiments, Observations, and the Newtonian Philosophy.

8vo. 103, [1] pp. Title vignette, woodcut initial letters and head-pieces. Modern half speckled calf, marbled boards, gilt-stamped spine title. PROVENANCE (preserved in photocopy to record correct provenance): Early armorial bookplates of Thomas Salwey, L.L.D. [ca.1740-60] of Richard's Castle [motto: "Crucem gerentes salvaegentes"], Salop; J.W.L. Glaisher, Sc.D., Trinity. Bookplate of The Francis Galton Laboratory for National Eugenics (Jan. 1930); initials "F.N.D." for Florence Nightingale David of University College London. David presented this book to statistician Margaret Stein (married to fellow statistician Charles Stein). Fine. Rare. First edition. "LANGRISH, Browne, M.D. (d. 1759), physician, born in Hampshire, was educated as a surgeon. In 1733 he was in practice at Petersfield, Hampshire, and published 'A New Essay on Muscular Motion,' in which the structure of muscles and the phenomena of muscular contraction are discussed with much ingenuity, but with no more satisfactory conclusion than that muscular motion arises from the influence of the animal spirits over the muscular fibres. On 25 July 1734 he became an extra licentiate of the College of Physicians, and began practice as a physician. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 16 May 1734, and in 1735 published 'The Modern Theory and Practice of Physic,' in which he displays considerable originality in clinical research, and describes experiments in the analysis of excreta and the examination of the blood. A second edition appeared in 1764. He practised in Winchester, and in 1746 published 'Physical Experiments on Brutes, in order to discover a safe and easy Method of dissolving Stone in the Bladder.' Experiments on cherry laurel water are added, and he concludes that this poisonous liquid may be used in medicine with advantage. He delivered the Croonian lectures on muscular motion before the Royal Society in 1747, and they were published in 1748. In the same year he graduated M.D., and published also 'Plain Directions in regard to the Small-pox,' a sensible and interesting quarto of thirty-five pages, showing extensive reading as well as acute clinical observation. He died at Basingstoke, Hampshire, on 29 Nov. 1759." [DNB]. / See also: Munk's College of Physicians, vol. ii. p. 130; Thomas Thomson, History of the Royal Society, from its institution to the end of the eighteenth century, 1812. PROVENANCE: Rev. Thomas Salwey (ca.1705- after or on 1759), of Ludlow, L.L.D. * Salwey was Rector of Richard's Castle. He married Constance (only daughter of Francis Biddulph) in 1742. / [Note this is not the famous Shropshire Botanist Rev. Thomas Salwey (1791-1877) of the same name]. / James Whitbread Lee Glaisher, Sc.D. (1848-1928), Fellow of Trinity College, was a prolific English mathematician and astronomer. He studied at Trinity where he was second wrangler in 1871. "He was also the 'tutor' of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (tutor being a non-academic role in Cambridge University). He was president of the Royal Astronomical Society 1886-1888 and 1901-1903." See: Hockey, Thomas (2009). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. / Francis Galton Laboratory. Karl Pearson In the twentieth century Francis Galton and Karl Pearson led the way in developing statistics into a mathematical discipline. This is mentioned partly because the provenance of this copy of Simpson comes from the Francis Galton Laboratory and was likely in the possession of Pearson himself. Indeed he inscribed his name to some of the books in his collection, though not with this volume. The Galton Lab bookplate is present however and the book is further signed with the initials of one of its known researchers, that of Florence Nightingale David (see below). / F.N.D. Florence Nightingale David (1909-1993), also known as F. N. David was an English statistician, born in Ivington, Herefordshire, England. She was named after Florence Nightingale, who was a friend of her parents. David did not li.…