This volume provides an introduction to Borelli's theory on the movement of animals and
demonstrates the nature of the energy of percussion its causes properties and effects.
Building on and moving away from the theory of mechanics as formulated by Aristotle and Galileo
and countering objections expressed by Stephani degli Angeli among others Borelli presents a
completely mechanical account of the action of muscles and analyzes the way in which the center
of gravity of the animal shifts in locomotion.Originally published in Italian in 1667 then
translated into Latin in 1686 the text of this volume has now been translated into English
making the text accessible to a wide readership.This volume is the first of two volumes that
contain the Introduction and physical-mathematical illustrations necessary to understand
Giovanni Alfonso Borelli's work On the Movement of Animals the founding text of seventeenth
century biomechanics. The second volume entitled On The Natural Motions Resulting From Gravity
describes his theory and scientific experiments relating to the natural movements of bodies in
a fluid environment.
