Cornelis Bontekoe
Encyclopedia
Cornelis Bontekoe whose real name was Cornelis Dekker, was a Dutch physician known also as a popular essayist, particularly on tea
, and editor of the works of Arnold Geulincx
. He applied what were generally Cartesian theories in medicine, but with innovations such as a purely hydraulic and muscular explanation of the mechanism of the heart
.
father Gerrit Dekker’s grocery shop in Alkmaar
, courted controversy and agitated for reform and more modern thinking in medicine. He studied first at the University of Leiden under Franciscus Sylvius
and Geulincx, gtaduating M.D. in 1667. In conflict with the medical men of Alkmaar, he moved his practice. He studied for a second period at Leiden from 1674, where Theodoor Craanen was teaching. His vocal opposition to Aristotelian
teaching saw him banned at Leiden, with Johannes Swartenhengst, in 1675. He was, however, readmitted in 1676 to the university, where his follower Heydentryk Overcamp graduated M.D. in 1677.
Bontekoe's Tractaat advocating tea-drinking appeared in 1678, and made his reputation. Via Amsterdam he moved to Hamburg
, where he wrote a work against the concept of climacteric year, which he dedicated to Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg. The Elector rewarded him with positions as court physician and as professor at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder.
Bontekoe moved to Prussia. He had patients in Berlin-Cölln and died there, after an accident related to his copious tea-drinking.
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, and editor of the works of Arnold Geulincx
Arnold Geulincx
Arnold Geulincx was a Flemish philosopher. He was one of the followers of René Descartes who tried to work out more detailed versions of a generally Cartesian philosophy...
. He applied what were generally Cartesian theories in medicine, but with innovations such as a purely hydraulic and muscular explanation of the mechanism of the heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
.
Life
In an itinerant and stormy life, Bontekoe, who took his pseudonym from the spotted cow on the sign of his MennoniteMennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
father Gerrit Dekker’s grocery shop in Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
, courted controversy and agitated for reform and more modern thinking in medicine. He studied first at the University of Leiden under Franciscus Sylvius
Franciscus Sylvius
Franciscus Sylvius , born Franz de le Boë, was a Dutch physician and scientist who was an early champion of Descartes', Van Helmont's and William Harvey's work and theories...
and Geulincx, gtaduating M.D. in 1667. In conflict with the medical men of Alkmaar, he moved his practice. He studied for a second period at Leiden from 1674, where Theodoor Craanen was teaching. His vocal opposition to Aristotelian
Aristotelianism
Aristotelianism is a tradition of philosophy that takes its defining inspiration from the work of Aristotle. The works of Aristotle were initially defended by the members of the Peripatetic school, and, later on, by the Neoplatonists, who produced many commentaries on Aristotle's writings...
teaching saw him banned at Leiden, with Johannes Swartenhengst, in 1675. He was, however, readmitted in 1676 to the university, where his follower Heydentryk Overcamp graduated M.D. in 1677.
Bontekoe's Tractaat advocating tea-drinking appeared in 1678, and made his reputation. Via Amsterdam he moved to Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, where he wrote a work against the concept of climacteric year, which he dedicated to Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg. The Elector rewarded him with positions as court physician and as professor at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder.
Bontekoe moved to Prussia. He had patients in Berlin-Cölln and died there, after an accident related to his copious tea-drinking.