DOCUMENT RESUME ED 288 74; SE 048 756 AUTHOR Bruno, Leonard C. TITLE The Tradition of Science: Landmarks of Western Science in the Collections of the Library of Congress. INSTITUTION Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO ISBN-0-8444-0528-0 PUB DATE 87 NOTE 359p.; Some color photographs may not reproduce well. AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 ($30.00). PUB TYPE Books (010) -- Reference Aaterials - Bibliographies (131) -- Historical Materials (060) EDRS PRICE MFO1 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Astronomy; Botany; Chemistry; *College Mathematics; *College Science; Geology; Higher Education; Mathematics Education; Medicine; Physics; *Science and Society; Science Education; *Science History; *Scientific and Technical Information; Zoology ABSTRACT Any real understanding of where we stand scientifically today and where we are headed depends to a great extent on an awareness of how we reached those scientific achievements. The increased impact of science and technology on our lives makes such an understanding even more important. For this reason, this book is intended to provide information about the major works of science in the collections of the Library of Congress. These selected works are organized here by traditional scientific discipline and are treated in historical and, generally, chronological order. The contents contain chapters on: (1) astronomy; (2) botany; (3) zoology; (4) medicine; (5) chemistry; (6) geology; (7) mathematics; and (8) physics. A bibliography provides information about particular Library of Congress collections to which a book or manuscript may belong, as well as specific bibliographic information. Title translations are also included. (TW) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUC T1ONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) hisdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or orronizetron Originating rt F' Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction qualify Points of view Or opiroOnS stated 111 this docu- ment do not necessanly represent official OERI positron or policy Therightion o awe LANDMARKS OF WESTERN SCIENCE IN THE COLLECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Leonard C. Bruno ,0 N- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 00 WASHINGTON D.C. --- 1937 0 t-LI (r) 2 BEST COPYAVAILABLE Library of Congress Cataloging -in- Publication Data Bruno, Leonard C. The tradition of science : landmarks of western science in the collections of the Library of Congress. Bibliography: p. Includes index. Supt. of Doc. no.: LC 1.12/2:sci2 1. ScienceHistoryLibrary resourcesWashington (D. C.)2. ScienceLibrary resourcesWashington (D. C.)3. Library of Congress. I.Title. Q125.B87 198550986-600088 ISBN 0-8444-0528-0 Designed by Stephen Kraft For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 3 ToJane 4 Contents page ix Preface page 1 Introduction page 25 1.Astronomy: Observing the Cosmos page 51 2.Botany: From Herbalism to Science page 73 3.Zoology: Our Shared Nature page 123 4.Medicine: The Healing Science page 171 5.Chemistry: Fertile Alchemy page 195 6.Geology: The Secret in the Stone page 223 7.Mathematics: Things Are Numbers page 251 8.Physics: The Elemental Why page 297 Epilogue page 299 Bibliography page 335 Index 5 Preface This book can perhaps best be described as an elaborate bibliographical essay. Invoking an author's prerogatives, I have taken liberties of style and approach and have attempted to blend bibliography with historywith- out, I hope, doing injury to either. The intended result was to achieve the purpose of any bibliographyin this case, to provide information about major works of science in the collections of the Library of Congressina manner that would both interest and inform the reader. Thus I have tried to treat each scientific work in a broad historical context, discussing its relation to other major works, to its own particular discipline,or to the history of science in general. Such treatment carries with it the danger that this book might be read either strictly as history or strictly asscience, when in fact it hopes to be something different from either. As to overall purpose, this is not a survey of the science collections of the Library of Congress. That is, it is not an attempt toassess the strengths and weaknesses of those collections as a typical survey would. Nor is it a guide to the collections that offers descriptive general informa- tion about the content of any particular collection. Finally, it is nota history of each scientific discipline in any real scholarlysense. Rather, this book is one person's trip through the Library's collection of Western scientific treasures. The works chosen for discussion, although the result of a subjective selection process, would probably appearon most lists of the great books of science. Technology as such is givenno separate or extended treatment. These selected works are organized here by tradi- tional scientific discipline and are treated in a typical historical, usually chronological, manner. This treatment, however, is by nomeans a critical review, nor is it meant to be in any way inclusive of all major works. On the contrary, it is a friendly journey through the Library of Congress and thus through history. It is written for the interested general reader bya generalist, with no authority claimed. Because of this, little mentionis made of either interpretive theories of history or of ongoing scientific controversies. Little need be said of methodology. For the most part, whena book is mentioned, it is as a primary source in the history of science. No second. ary works are discussed. Although a particular work may come from one of the Library's special collectionsfor instance, the Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection or the Joseph M. Toner Collectionno reference to that collec- tion will be made in the text, since the emphasis here is alwayson the individual work itself. The bibliography provides information about partic- ular Library collections to which a book or manuscript may belong,as IX 6 x well as specific bibliographical information. Title translations will also be found there. Because of the great expanses of time and the wide sweep of ideas, both of which were necessarily compressed in this brief treatment of amam- moth subject, it sometimes became easy to impose patterns on the pastor to treat a complex subject in a somewhat facile manner. Taking refuge in the house of conventional history became an unavoidablethough not always unwelcomehabit. Further, I have allowed myself to indulge in the anecdotal. This was deliberate, as I decided early on to try to write not only about the merits and significance of each scientific work but also about the person behind the work. Despite the brilliance and the heights of intellectual achievements recorded here, what often is best rememberedare the small, personal details of either greatness or frailty, success or failure human details that remind us that the intellectual tradition of science partakes of a larger, more encompassing tradition of being human. The idea for this book came from Joseph W. Price, chief of the Science and Technology Division of the Library of Congress, who in 1981 asked that I study the Library's science collections and determine which of the major works in the history of science the Library actually possessed in first edition. It took little vision on my part to elaborate on this idea and to produce this volume. What was necessary however was Mr. Price's con- currence both that such a book as this was needed and that I would be allowed the time to write it. I thank Mr. Price for the opportunity and the continuing support, as well as for his patient reading of each draft chapter as it was produced. I hope I have met his expectations. Very early in the project, the director of the Library's Publishing Office, Dana J. Pratt, was consulted and he joined in support of the idea. He too read each chapter and offered not only steady encouragement but concrete help in molding the entire book. His good advice and much-needed criti- cism and correction were cheerfully and positively given and were invaria- bly helpful. He proved a wise counselor. Once it was written, the book's editor, Evelyn E. Sinclair, took charge and gave the manuscript a rigorous shaping-up. Throughout the lengthy production process I was encouraged tosee her editing ability and sound judgment complemented by superb organizing skills. Iam very grateful to have worked with such a competent and sympathetic professional. I am very proud of the book's bibliographythe product of Ruth S. Freitag's hard work. Although I selected all the worksto be included there, the remainder of the job was left to her admirable bibliographic skills. The result is a typical Freitag jobabsolutely correct and totallyconsistent. I can boast here since it was not my work. There were also many others throughout the Library, too numerous to list here, whose cooperation and assistance made my job easier. Among those to whom I must have been a regular burden, however, and to whom I owe a special thanks are Kathleen T. Mang, librarian for the Rosenwald Collection, for her guidance, patience, and general indulgence, and Clark W. Evans, senior reference librarian, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, whose reference help was always forthcoming and dependable. THE TRADITION OF SCIENCE 7 The final note of appreciation goes to Brenda W. Presbury, who typed xi nearly the entire manuscript, and to Linda W. Carpenter, who not only helped with the typing but with the proofreading as well. At this point, most authors usually murmer mea culpa In advance taking responsibility for all errors in fact and judgment that theattentive reader will no doubt find.