James Primrose (physician)
Encyclopedia
James Primrose or Primerose M.D. (d. 1659) was an English physician, an opponent of William Harvey
's theory of the circulation of the blood.
. He studied at the University of Bordeaux
, there graduated M.A., and then proceeded to Montpellier
, where he took the degree of M.D. in 1617, and attended the lectures of John Varandaeus, professor of physic.
He was incorporated M.D. at Oxford in March 1628. On 9 December 1629, at Dr. Argent's house in London, he was examined for admission to the license of the College of Physicians
, William Harvey, being one of his examiners (manuscript annals). He passed, and was admitted the following day. He settled in Kingston-upon-Hull, and there practised his profession. He died in December 1659 at Hull, where he was buried in Holy Trinity Church.
, one of Harvey's supporters. Harvey made no reply.
In 1631 Primrose published at Oxford 'Academia Monspeliensis descripta,' dedicated to Thomas Clayton, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, and in 1638, in London, 'De Vulgi in Medicina Erroribus.' An English translation of this was published by Robert Wittie, another physician in Hull, in 1651. A French translation appeared at Lyon in 1689; other Latin editions appeared at Amsterdam in 1639 and at Rotterdam in 1658 and 1668. It refutes such doctrines as that a hen fed on gold leaf
assimilates the gold, so that three pure golden lines appear on her breast; that the linen of the sick ought not to be changed; that remedies are not to be rejected for their unpleasantness; and that gold boiled in broth will cure consumption
. Andrew Marvell
wrote eighteen lines of Latin verse and an English poem of forty lines in praise of this translation. Wittie published in 1640 in London an English version of a separate work by Primrose on part of the same subject, 'The Antimoniall Cup twice Cast.'
In 1647 Primrose published, at Leyden, 'Aphorismi necessarii ad doctrinam Medicinae acquirendam perutiles,' and, at Amsterdam, in 1650, 'Enchiridion Medicum,' a digest of Galenic
medicine, on the same general plan as Nial O'Glacan's treatise, and in 1651 'Ars Pharmaceutica, methodus brevissima de eligendis et componendis medicinis.' His last four books were all published at Rotterdam; 'De Mulierum Morbis,' 1655; 'Destructio Fundamentorum Vopisci Fortunati Plempii,' 1657; 'De Febribus,'1658; and 'Partes duae de Morbis Puerorum,' 1659. All his books are compilations, with very few observations of his own.
William Harvey
William Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart...
's theory of the circulation of the blood.
Life
The son of Gilbert Primrose, he was born at St. Jean d'Angély, now in Charente-Inférieure, FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He studied at the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
, there graduated M.A., and then proceeded to Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, where he took the degree of M.D. in 1617, and attended the lectures of John Varandaeus, professor of physic.
He was incorporated M.D. at Oxford in March 1628. On 9 December 1629, at Dr. Argent's house in London, he was examined for admission to the license of the College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, William Harvey, being one of his examiners (manuscript annals). He passed, and was admitted the following day. He settled in Kingston-upon-Hull, and there practised his profession. He died in December 1659 at Hull, where he was buried in Holy Trinity Church.
Works
His first book appeared in London in 1630: 'Exercitationes et Animadversiones in Librum Gulielmi Harvaei de Motu Cordis et Circulatione Sanguinis,' and is an attempt to refute Harvey's demonstration of the circulation of the blood. His 'Animadversiones in J. Walaei Disputationem,' Amsterdam, 1639, 'Animadversiones in Theses D. Henrici le Roy,' Leyden, 1640, and 'Antidotum adversus Spongium venatum Henrici Regii,' Leyden, 1640, are further arguments on the same subject. He attacked Roger DrakeRoger Drake (physician)
Roger Drake was an English physician, and a minister of strong Presbyterian convictions.-Life:He was the eldest son of Roger Drake, a wealthy mercer of Cheapside, who died in December 1651. He received his education at Pembroke College, Cambridge, as a member of which he graduated B.A. in 1628,...
, one of Harvey's supporters. Harvey made no reply.
In 1631 Primrose published at Oxford 'Academia Monspeliensis descripta,' dedicated to Thomas Clayton, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, and in 1638, in London, 'De Vulgi in Medicina Erroribus.' An English translation of this was published by Robert Wittie, another physician in Hull, in 1651. A French translation appeared at Lyon in 1689; other Latin editions appeared at Amsterdam in 1639 and at Rotterdam in 1658 and 1668. It refutes such doctrines as that a hen fed on gold leaf
Gold leaf
right|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
assimilates the gold, so that three pure golden lines appear on her breast; that the linen of the sick ought not to be changed; that remedies are not to be rejected for their unpleasantness; and that gold boiled in broth will cure consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell was an English metaphysical poet, Parliamentarian, and the son of a Church of England clergyman . As a metaphysical poet, he is associated with John Donne and George Herbert...
wrote eighteen lines of Latin verse and an English poem of forty lines in praise of this translation. Wittie published in 1640 in London an English version of a separate work by Primrose on part of the same subject, 'The Antimoniall Cup twice Cast.'
In 1647 Primrose published, at Leyden, 'Aphorismi necessarii ad doctrinam Medicinae acquirendam perutiles,' and, at Amsterdam, in 1650, 'Enchiridion Medicum,' a digest of Galenic
Galenic formulation
Galenic formulation deals with the principles of preparing and compounding medicines in order to optimize their absorption. Galenic formulation is named after Claudius Galen, a 2nd Century AD Greek physician, who codified the preparation of drugs using multiple ingredients...
medicine, on the same general plan as Nial O'Glacan's treatise, and in 1651 'Ars Pharmaceutica, methodus brevissima de eligendis et componendis medicinis.' His last four books were all published at Rotterdam; 'De Mulierum Morbis,' 1655; 'Destructio Fundamentorum Vopisci Fortunati Plempii,' 1657; 'De Febribus,'1658; and 'Partes duae de Morbis Puerorum,' 1659. All his books are compilations, with very few observations of his own.