[Lavoisier, forerunner of ergonomics].

Marcelin Berthelot has written that Lavoisier's physiological revolution has been nearly as important as his chemical one. Moreover he went beyond theoretical researches by a continual approach of labour and human environment, making himself a real precursor of ergonomics. Thus indeed can be considered his works on lighting, room aeration, hospitals reorganization, improvement of jails, transfer of slaughter-houses, watering and water-course, cesspools. Finally and chiefly his experimentation with Seguin on respiration and perspiration, as well as the wording of the program of the Prizes of Insalubrious Arts realize a genius' prospect of labour physiology and medicine already enclosed in what will later be ergonomics.