A DISSERTATION ON THE AETHER OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON.

Dublin, printed for S. Powell, Geo. Ewing and Wil. Smith, 1743.. FIRST EDITION and SECOND REVISED EDITION BOUND TOGETHER (the revised edition bound before the first), 1745 & 1743. With bookplate of Robert Wright Cope Cope of Loughall, County Armagh on first pastedown. 8vo, approximately 205 x 120 mm, 8 x 4½ inches, folding plate to each edition, the images of the folding plates differ, title page in red and black to first edition, printed on thick paper, pages: FIRST EDITION: [4], [1]-124 with folding plate at rear; SECOND REVISED EDITION: [4], [1]- 51, including Appendix, folding plate at rear. Beneath "Finish" of revised edition an Errata slip has been pasted on, contemporary full calf, gilt lettered label to spine, gilt decoration to spine, speckled edges. Binding slightly rubbed and scuffed with a few small pale stains, corners slightly bumped, occasional tiny spot to margins, otherwise both volumes in very good clean condition and printed on good quality heavy stock. Bryan Robinson (1680-1754), physician and author. Robinson "greatly admired Newton, and he tried to account for animal motions by Newton's principles and to apply the latter to the rational treatment of diseases. He attributed the production of muscular power to the vibration of an ethereal fluid pervading the animal body. In his chapter on respiration he cited experiments to show that the 'acid parts' of the air were necessary for a candle to give light, a coal to burn, and a dog to breathe. He was therefore aware of the nature of oxygen, in anticipation of the discoveries of Priestley and Lavoisier in 1775." - Oxford DNB. See: Peter & Ruth Wallis, Newton and Newtoniana 1672-1975, A Bibliography, page 153, No. 227 & 228; George J. Gray, A Bibliography of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton, page 45, No. 227 & 228; Grace K. Babson, Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton, page 80, No. 159 listing the 1747 edition; Sotheby's, The Library of the Earls of Macclesfield, Part Six, page 143, No.1758; The Catalogue of the Wellcome Medical Library, Volume 4, page 540, listing the 1747 edition; ESTC N473221 list 2 copies of the first edition in UK and 2 in USA. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.