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Gerardus Blasius and the Illustrated Amsterdam Observationes from Nicolaas Tulp to Frederik Ruysch

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Professors, Physicians and Practices in the History of Medicine

Part of the book series: Archimedes ((ARIM,volume 50))

Abstract

This essay explores the collections of Observationes, whether medicae or chirurgicae, published in Amsterdam from about 1640 to about 1690, or from Nicolaas Tulp to Frederik Ruysch. Since many Observationes were illustrated, I pay special attention to the role of images, with special emphasis on those representing diseased states. The works by Gerardus Blasius appear especially informative about contemporary practices including clinical teaching, physical examinations, postmortems, collecting, and visual representation.

I thank Joel Silver at the Lilly Library of Indiana University and Ron Sims at the Galter Library at Northwestern for support and assistance. I am grateful to Ellen Dwyer, Ashley Inglehart, Cindy Klestinec, Evan Ragland, Bret Rothstein, Allen Shotwell, and the IU history of medicine reading group for comments on a previous version of this paper. Special thanks to Eric Jorink, who kindly offered a number of valuable comments on an earlier version of this essay.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Blasius 1677, 36–7, Observatio 2, for example, deals with a cleft palate.

  2. 2.

    Cook 2007; Pomata 2010, 2011a, b, “A Word of the Empirics” and “Observation Rising”; and Park 2011.

  3. 3.

    Pomata 2010, 2011a, b and 2005.

  4. 4.

    Bartholin 1654, 1657, 1661; and 1663–67. Geneva physician Théophile Bonet assembled a huge number of mostly previously published reports in Sepulchretum (1679); a second expanded edition was edited by Jean-Jacques Manget (1700). See Siraisi 2001a, b, “Segni evidenti” and “Signs and Evidence”; and 2013; Donato 2011; and Weber 2006.

  5. 5.

    Lindeboom 1984, esp. 1294–5, 1668–9, 2004–6. In the following century the illustrated collection Cornelis Trioen, Observationum medico-chirurgicarum fasciculus (1743a) was rendered as Genees- en heelkundige waarneemingen (1743b). Hendrik van Roonhuyse’s work on the diseases of women had a new expanded edition (Amsterdam, 1672). The German was Historischer Heil-Curen in zwey Theile verfassete Anmerckungen (Nürnberg, 1674). See also van Roonhuyse 1676; and van Meek’ren 1675. I will not discuss Observationes anatomicae selectiores by the Collegium privatum Amstelodamensis, which are exclusively devoted to zootomy.

  6. 6.

    Lindeboom, 152–4, 156–8, 1030–2, 1773–74. See Schrader 1674, 207–8, Figures VII–VIII. I omit here the Observationes anatomicae selectiores (Amsterdam, 1667–73) by the Amsterdam Collegium privatum in that they are exclusively anatomical. See Cook 1992, 139.

  7. 7.

    Lindeboom, 807–8, 1865–66. See de Heide 1684, 51–199, esp. 84–5, 112–6, 123–6, 196–9. On de Heide, see Bertoloni Meli 2013a, 219. See also Stalpart vander Wiel 1682, which translates works originally in Dutch.

  8. 8.

    Lindeboom, 1700–1704. See also Kooijmans, esp. 78–9, 82, 88–90, 95–7.

  9. 9.

    Guilhelmus Fabricius from Hilden or Hildanus 1646. On Hildanus, see Jones 1960. Also, Tulp, Observationes (1652), contains XVIII numbered plates and one that is not numbered at 259; the reference to Fabricius Hildanus is at 275. See Dudok van Heel 1998; Temkin 1951; Bertoloni Meli 2015; eadem., “The Rise of Pathological Illustrations: Baillie, Bleuland, and their Collections,” forthcoming in Bulletin for the History of Medicine.

  10. 10.

    See Ogilvie 2006; Kusukawa 2012.

  11. 11.

    See von Gersdorff (1517) and Bauhin 1605, 1312–1313. See also Dackerman 2011, esp. 60–3, 80–1; Siraisi 2001d, “Vesalius and Human Diversity,” 287–327; and Kusukawa, 218–33.

  12. 12.

    See Impey and Macgregor 1985; Findlen 1994; Daston and Park 1998; Jorink 2010, esp. 257–399; Acheson 2010; Ogilvie 2003; Baigrie 1996; Anderson 2009; Soojung-Kim Pang 1997; Dackerman 2011.

  13. 13.

    See Alpers 1983; Olmi 1992, 119–61, esp. 121; Cook 2007, 154–64. On visual genres, see Silver 2006; Swan 2008a, 239–49; eadem 2008, 199–213; eadem., in Dackerman 2011, 186–90; eadem 2008, “The Uses of Botanical Treatises.”

  14. 14.

    Tulp 1652, 271 and title page, 256–8, plate XIII; 258–60, the plate is not numbered, 221–7. See Daston and Park 1998; Bates 2005; Swan 2008b.

  15. 15.

    Tulp 1652, 341–4, at 342; 364–6, 369–71, 283–91, at 284. See Goldschmid 1925, 42–3; Park 2006, ch. 4 and 266; Sappol 2006, 16, Plate 21.

  16. 16.

    See Tulp 1652, 55–60; Bauhin 1621, Appendix, Plate IX; Malpighi, “De polypo cordis. An Annotated Translation”, by John M. Forrester 1995, 480–481; Bertoloni Meli 2001; eadem 2011, 142–9; and Belloni 1956, 28–35.

  17. 17.

    Tulp 1652, 242–4. See Park 1998, 254–71; eadem 2006; Wilkin 2008.

  18. 18.

    van Roonhuyse 1672, 20–21. See Ricci 1949, 138–45; de Moulin 1988, 144–7.

  19. 19.

    van Meek’ren, 49–51, and for the infant affected by omphalocele, 134–6. See the introduction by de Moulin to the facsimile reprint of Job van Meekeren, Heel- en geneeskonstike aenmerkingen 1979; Parapia and Jackson 2008, 32–5; and de Moulin, 142–5, esp. 144.

  20. 20.

    van Meek’ren, 230–6. See Liedtke 2007, 1: 201; Kooijmans, 64, 106; Schouten 1974.

  21. 21.

    van Meek’ren, 51–5.

  22. 22.

    The reference to Fabricius Hildanus is at 52; see also 41, 57, 181–2. See Hildanus, Opera, 511–3, Centuria VI, Observationes XVI–XVIII.

  23. 23.

    van Meek’ren, 364–8.

  24. 24.

    Kerckring, 145–7. See Margócsy 2011, 185–215, esp. 211; Kemp 2010, 192–208, figures 5, 6, 16; Roberts and Tomlinson 1992, 300–305, 309–19; Bertoloni Meli 2011, 147–8; and Goldschmied, 45.

  25. 25.

    See van Miert 2009; Kooijmans 2010; Mooij 1999, esp. 71–6; Cook 2007, ch. 4.

  26. 26.

    See Lindeboom, 156–8; van Miert, 92–3, 164; Beukers 1987–8; Cook 2007, 149–50; Huisman 2009, 128–44; Jorink, 283–9; Bertoloni Meli 2011, 33.

  27. 27.

    Blasius 1677, 82, 84, quotation at 82. See also the Observata anatomica extraordinaria in homine in Blasius 1674, 119.

  28. 28.

    Van Miert, 319–24.

  29. 29.

    Ibid., 93, 122, 320–22. See also Steno 1986, sub indice; Bertoloni Meli 2011, 111–3.

  30. 30.

    Cole 1944, 150–5.

  31. 31.

    Collegium privatum Amstelodamense, Observationes anatomica selectiores (1667, 1673). Facsimile edition with introduction by Lindeboom 1975. See also Cole, 330–41.

  32. 32.

    Cole, 151, 341. See also Blasius, Miscellanea anatomica, address to the reader and 168; Cunningham 1985, 195–222; eadem 2010, 308–40, at 314, 316; Ragland 2008; Bertoloni Meli 2011, 32–3; and eadem 2013.

  33. 33.

    See Lindeboom, 156–8; van Miert 2009, 92–3, 164, 319–24. Amsterdam clinical teaching declined after Blasius.

  34. 34.

    See Mooij, 75; Cook, 149–50; Beukers, 139–45; and Huisman, 145–54.

  35. 35.

    Beukers, 151n25. The full title of the edition of Fernel, Universa medicina, by Otto Heurnius, ends with the words “Cui accedunt casus et observationes rariores quas cl. d. d. Otho Heurnius in diario practico annotavit.” The Latin full titles of Blasius’s works can be found in Appendix 2. See also Bontius 1642, 191–206; and Cook, 191–209, at 194.

  36. 36.

    For example, see Kemp 2010; Sappol 2006. Daston and Galison 2007, ch. 2, argue that before the early nineteenth century, images were abstract representations meant to capture the key features of specimens, what they call “truth-to-nature,” or “characteristic “images of individual representative specimens. Their analysis seems to draw primarily from botany and anatomy but sits awkwardly with early representations of diseased states and monsters. Kusukawa highlights that the canonical body was not attained exclusively from frequency, 219–21, and discusses anatomical works focusing on individual specimens, 239–40.

  37. 37.

    Cole includes many reproductions that are analyzed from a strictly anatomical standpoint. See also Guerrini 2010; Goldschmid; Bertoloni Meli 2015. For a rather clumsy attempt at representing textures, see Vesalius 1543, 2, and the discussion by Long 2011, 58–59.

  38. 38.

    Blasius 1677, address to the reader, 31. See also eadem, Miscellanea anatomica, 307. On van Dortmond, see Kooijmans, 96–8; and Lindeboom, 483–4. References to medical men involved in cures and dissections are ubiquitous: see Blasius 1677, 8, 17, 27, 28, 40–1.

  39. 39.

    French 2001, 133–4. See Blasius, Miscellanea anatomica, 1 and following, which discuss various body parts by dividing the material in sections; and eadem., Medicina universa, 20–1.

  40. 40.

    Blasius 1677: the six sections start at 1 (25 observations), 35 (8 observations), 42 (5 observations), 47 (21 observationes), 61 (7 observations), 73 (25 observations).

  41. 41.

    Ibid., 52–4, 60–1.

  42. 42.

    Tyson 1678–9, 1038. See also Siraisi 2001d, 320.

  43. 43.

    Plate VII in Blasius 1677 shows several malformations of the urinary system.

  44. 44.

    Ibid., 10–11; quotation at 17. Also, eadem., Miscellanea anatomica, 294–5, at 295; and van Meek’ren, 230–6.

  45. 45.

    Blasius 1677, 3–9; van Roonhuyse, 3–12, at 3, plate at 7.

  46. 46.

    Blasius 1677, 19–24.

  47. 47.

    Ibid., 24–5; and eadem., Miscellanea, 307–8.

  48. 48.

    Blasius 1677, 46, 115. See Ragland, 632–3.

  49. 49.

    Kooijmans, 78–82, 88–9, 97, 156, 185. See Lebert 1857–61, 1:6; I translate “iconographie pathologique” as “pathological illustrations,” since the term “iconography” has a more technical meaning in English. Also Sandifort identified Ruysch as an especially significant early source in the history of the visual representation of bone diseases: see Museum anatomicum Academiae Lugduno-Batavae. 4 vols. (the last two were published by his son Gerard) (1793–1835), 2: 4; and eadem. 1691, 127–38.

  50. 50.

    Ruysch 1691, 69 and figure 45. See Kooijmans, 169; Hansen 1996; van de Roemer 2010; Margócsy 2009; Jorink, 319–325; Knoeff 2015; Hendriksen 2015, which offers several important considerations on Ruysch.

  51. 51.

    Ruysch, 45–7; and Schrader, 204–5.

  52. 52.

    Ruysch, 87–8. Notice that in both figures the orientation of the letters does not agree with that of the shadows, supposing the light to be coming from the left.

  53. 53.

    Temkin 1951.

  54. 54.

    Sandifort 1793–1835, vol. 1, quotation at v. See Bertoloni Meli, “The Rise of Pathological Illustrations: Baillie, Bleuland, and their Collections,” forthcoming in Bulletin for the History of Medicine.

  55. 55.

    Ruysch 1691, see for example 88, 90, 100, 108.

  56. 56.

    Kemp 1993, 107–8.

  57. 57.

    See Temkin 1951; Rodari 1996; Goldschmied; Givens et al. 2006.

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  1. Indiana University, Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Domenico Bertoloni Meli

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  1. Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, USA

    Gideon Manning

  2. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA

    Cynthia Klestinec

Appendices

Appendix 1: Some of the Main Works Authored or Edited by Gerardus Blasius

  • Gerardus Blasius, De nephritide. Leiden: Moyaert, 1648

  • Johann Vesling, Syntagma anatomicum, commentariis illustratum. Amsterdam: Apud Joannem Janssonium, 1659.

  • Philipp Müller, Miracula chymica et mysteria medica libris quinque enucleata. Ex recensione Gerardi Blasii. Amsterdam: Apud Aegidium Jansonium Valckenier, 1659.

  • Jean Béguin, Tyrocinium chymicum commentariis illustratum à Gerardo Blasio. Amsterdam: Egidium Valkenier and Casper Commelijn, 1659.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Medicina generalis, nova accurataque methodo fundamenta exhibens. Amsterdam: Apud P. van den Berge, 1661.

  • Lorenzo Bellini, Exercitatio anatomica de structura et usu renum, cui renum monstrosorum exempla, ex medicorum celebrium scriptis, addidit Gerardus Blasius. Amsterdam: sumptibus Andreae Frisii, 1665.

  • Pierre Morel, Methodus praescribendi formulas remediorum. Cum adjuncto Materiae medicae systemate. Aucta, variisque modis illustrata, nunc pro 2. ed. recensita a Gerardo Blasio. Amsterdam: Apud Casparum Commelinum, 1665 (also 1680).

  • Fortunio Liceti, De monstris, ex recensione Gerardi Blasii, qui monstra quædam nova & rariora ex recentiorum scriptis addidit. Amsterdam: sumptibus Andreae Frisii, 1665.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Medicina universa; hygieines & therapeutices fundamenta methodo nova brevissime exhibens. Amsterdam: Petrus vanden Berge, 1665.

  • Johann Vesling, Syntagma anatomicum, commentario atque appendice ex veterum, recentiorum, propriisque, observationibus, illustratum et auctum. Amsterdam: apud Joannem Janssonium à Waesberge, 1666.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Anatome medullae spinalis et nervorum inde provenientium. Amsterdam: Apud Casparum Commelinum, 1666.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Anatome contracta in gratiam discipulorum conscripta, & edita. Amsterdam: apud Gerbrandum Schagen, 1666.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Institutionum medicarum compendium, Disputationibus XII in Amstel. Athenaeo publice ventilatis, absolutum. Amsterdam: Petrus van den Bergh, 1667.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Miscellanea anatomica, hominis, brutorumque variorum, fabricam diversam magna parte exhibentia. Amsterdam: Casper Commelijn, 1673.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Observata anatomica in homine, simiâ, equo, vitulo, ove, testudine, echino, glire, serpente, ardeâ, variisque animalibus aliis. Accedunt extraordinaria in homine reperta praxin medicam aeque ac anatomen illustrantia. Leiden: Apud Gaasbeeck, 1674.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Zootomiae, seu anatomes variorum animalium pars prima. Amsterdam: apud Abrahamum Wolfgang, 1676 [i.e. 1677].

  • Gerardus Blasius, Observationes medicae rariores. Accedit monstri triplicis historia. Amsterdam: Apud Abrahamum Wolfgang, 1677.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Medicina curatoria: methodo nova in gratiam discipulorum conscripta. Amsterdam: Apud Henricum & Theodorum Boom, 1680.

  • Gerardus Blasius, Anatome animalium terrestrium variorum, volatilium, aquatilium, serpentum, insectorum, ovorumque, structuram naturalem: ex veterum recentiorum, propriisque observationibus proponens, figuris variis illustrata. Amsterdam: Sumptibus viduæ Joannis à Someren, Henrici & viduæ Theodori Boom, 1681.

  • Thomas Willis, Opera omnia, nitidius, quam unquam hactenus edita, plurimum emendata, indicibus rerum copiosissimis, ac distinctione characterum exornata. Amsterdam: apud Henricum Wetstenium, 1682.

Appendix 2: Illustrated Collections of Observationes, Whether medicae, chirurgicae, or anatomicae, Published in Amsterdam, 1641–1691

  • Tulp, Nicolaas, Observationes medicae. Amsterdam: Apud Ludovicum Elzevirium, 1641. Second expanded edition, 1652. Reprinted in Amsterdam by Daniel Elzevier, 1672 and Henricus Wetstenius, 1685.

  • Roonhuyse, Hendrik van, Heel-konstige aanmerkkingen betreffende de gebreekken der vrowven. Amsterdam: by de Weduwe van Theunis Jacobsz. Lootsman, 1663, second edition 1672.

  • Collegium privatum Amstelodamensis, Observationes anatomicae selectiores. Amsterdam: Apud Casparum Commelinum, 1667–73.

  • Roonhuyse, Hendrik van, Genees en heel-konstige aanmerkingen. Amsterdam: By de Weduwe van Theunis Jacobsz. Lootsman, 1672.

  • Meek’ren, Job van, Heel- en geneeskonstige aanmerkkingen. Amsterdam: Casper Commelijn, 1668. Latin translation by Abraham Blasius, Observationes medico-chirurgicae. Amsterdam: Ex officina Henrici & Viduae Theodori Boom, 1682.

  • Kerckring, Theodor, Spicilegium anatomicum, continens observationum anatomicarum rariorum centuriam unam. Amsterdam: Andreas Frisius, 1670.

  • Justus Schrader, Observationes et historiae omnes et singulae è Guiljelmi Harvei libello ‘De generatione animalium’ ecxerptae, & in accuratissimo ordine redactae … Accedunt ovi faecundi singulis ab incubatione diebus factae inspectiones; ut et observationum anatomico-med[icarum] decades quatuor. Amsterdam: Abraham Wolfgang, 1674.

  • Blasius, Gerardus, Observationes medicae rariores. Accedit monstri triplicis historia. Amsterdam: Abraham Wolfgang, 1677.

  • Blankaart, Steven, Collectanea medico-physica, oft Hollands Jaar-Register der genees-en natuur-kundige Aanmerkingen van gantsch Europa. Amsterdam: Johan ten Hoorn, 1680–6, 3 volumes.

  • Stalpart vander Wiel, Cornelis, Hondert seldzame aanmerkingen so in de genees- als heel- en sny-konst. Amsterdam: Johan ten Hoorn, 1682 (later additions, with Latin and French translations, appeared in The Hague, Leiden, and Paris).

  • de Heide, Antonius, Anatome mytuli, Belgicè mossel, structuram elegantem eius motumque mirandum exponens, nec non centuria observationum medicarum. Amsterdam: Apud Janssonio-Waesbergios, 1683 (some copies dated 1684).

  • Ruysch, Frederik, Observationum anatomico-chirurgicarum centuria: accedit catalogus rariorum, quae in Museo Ruyschiano asservantur. Amsterdam: Apud Henricum & Viduam Theodori Boom, 1691.

  • Bauhin, Caspar. 1621. Theatrum anatomicum. Frankfurt/M: Johann Theodor de Bry.

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Meli, D.B. (2017). Gerardus Blasius and the Illustrated Amsterdam Observationes from Nicolaas Tulp to Frederik Ruysch. In: Manning, G., Klestinec, C. (eds) Professors, Physicians and Practices in the History of Medicine. Archimedes, vol 50. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56514-9_12

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