197 - TISSOT (Simon-André). On the Health of Men of Letters.

TISSOT (Simon-André). On the Health of Men of Letters. Lausanne: Grasset; Lyon: Duplain, 1768, in-12, XV pp.—246 pp. Fawn-colored veal leather with a grained finish, ribbed spine, panels with gilt fillets, “spiderweb” metal fittings, title label, marbled edges. (Contemporary binding).—A fine copy, though the endpapers are stained. Second French edition; the text was first published in Latin. The author translated his own work in order to put a stop to erroneous editions. The running title reads: “On the Health of Men of Letters and the Infirm.” This study is groundbreaking because the health of “sedentary workers”—and more precisely, of intellectuals—had never before been the subject of research; studies of this kind had tended to focus instead on workers engaged in physically demanding labor or on the general population. This approach foreshadows the modern fields of hygiene and preventive medicine. Tissot paints a grim picture of ailments caused by a lack of exercise and an overly rich diet. He notes a resurgence of nervous disorders (modern “stress”...). The work contains numerous observations on food, and one chapter is devoted to tobacco (10 pages). Simon-André Tissot, from Vaud, is the author of a popular medical work and a controversial treatise on masturbation. (Quérard IX, p. 484). Also included, by the same author: - TISSOT (Simon-André). Advice to the People on Their Health. Third original edition, expanded by the author. Lyon, Duplain, 1774, 2 volumes in-12, XX pp.—220 pp.—2 folios—pp. 221–464—1 folio. Bound in one volume in brown sheepskin, with a decorated ribbed spine and red edges. (Contemporary binding). - Numerous children’s graffiti in graphite, some damage to the binding. This famous treatise on “home” medicine was published numerous times throughout the second half of the 18th century.