Born Today – Hermann Boerhaave

From  Today in Science History:

Hermann Boerhaave, born 31 Dec 1668; died 23 Sep 1738

Dutch physician and professor of medicine who was the first great clinical, or “bedside,” teacher. To combine practice with theory, Boerhaave founded a hospital in which he gave clinical instruction to his pupils, thus introducing the clinical method into medical education. In 1718 he became professor of chemistry, and in 1724 he published Elementa Chemiae (Elements of Chemistry), a work that did much to make the science of chemistry clear and intelligible. He also made contributions in the field of botany.

Swammerdam’s ‘Book of Nature’

An English translation of Jan Swammerdam’s book, The Book of Nature, or, The History of Insects is available online from Utah State University Digital Initiatives. This digitised book includes a biography of Swammerdam by Herman Boerhaave.

The Book of Nature, or, The History of Insects

Photo Album – Prince William the Silent

The statue of  Willem de Zwijger (“the Silent”) Prince William of Orange (1533 – 1584), as found in the garden of  the Prinsenhof, Delft. The Prinsenhof, originally a convent and then home to the Prince, is now a museum. In 1575, in honour of the brave resistance of the people of Leiden during a Spanish seige, Prince William founded the University of Leiden, the oldest university in The Netherlands. Beeckman, Boerhaave, s’ Gravesande, Hortensius, Huygens, Stevin and Swammerdam all had some association with the University of Leiden. Prince William was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard in the Prinsenhof on the 10 July, 1584.

Request for Education Links

I have noticed that Leeuwenhoek is often used as a subject for special projects for school children. I want to add a page that is specifically for students that will allow them to link directly to age appropriate websites for Leeuwenhoek information. If you have a site, or if you know of a site (in any language) please submit the address in the comments. All material on each site will be thoroughly perused prior to entry on the page. Thank you!

The Beginning of Western Science – Book Review

The Beginnings of Western Science

The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, Prehistory to A.D. 1450 by David C. Lindberg, University Of Chicago Press.

Reviewed by Tony O’Brien, RN, MPhil

What is science? In the opening chapter of this revised edition of his 1992 survey of pre-Renaissance scientific thought historian David C Lindbergh offers three responses. Science can be thought of in terms of theory, method, or the practices of scientists. This is all very well, Lindberg argues, but such limited concepts won’t survive if we are to understand science historically. Since the range of Lindberg’s book is the two millennia prior to 1450 AD a concept of science is needed that is more compatible with inquiry into the natural world in ancient and medieval times. Lindberg introduces the terms “natural philosophy” and “philosophy of nature”, and the stage is set for an encyclopedic exploration of investigative practices in the time before science became the highly systematized set of procedures it is today.

Read the full article at Metapsychology Online Reviews