Johannes Heurnius
Encyclopedia
Johannes Heurnius (1543–1601) was a Dutch physician and natural philosopher.
, and studied at Leuven
and Paris. He went to the University of Padua
to study under Hieronymus Fabricius
; and graduated M.D. there in 1566, examined by Petrus Ramus
and Fabricius.
He wrote on the Great Comet of 1577
; at that time he was town physician in Utrecht
. In 1581 he became professor of medicine at the University of Leiden. He had already a reputation and good contacts with humanist scholars; and was appointed as senior to Gerardus Bontius, an earlier physician on the faculty.
He was a pioneer of the bedside teaching of medicine, and has been given credit for his methods From Padua he brought not only anatomy
in the tradition of Vesalius
, but anatomical demonstrations and practical clinical work. It is not clear, however, if the 1591 proposal by Heurnius and Bontius to implement practical teaching on the Paduan lines was accepted officially. The physician Otto Heurnius
was his son; Heurnius's ideas on teaching were transmitted widely through Otto, Franciscus Sylvius
, Govert Bidloo
and Herman Boerhaave
. After his father's death, Otto put together his lectures, published in the Opera Omnia, covering medecine both in theory and as a practical discipline.
Life
He was born at UtrechtUtrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
, and studied at Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
and Paris. He went to the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
to study under Hieronymus Fabricius
Hieronymus Fabricius
Hieronymus Fabricius or Girolamo Fabrizio or by his Latin name Fabricus ab Aquapendende also Girolamo Fabrizi d'Acquapendente was a pioneering anatomist and surgeon known in medical science as "The Father of Embryology."...
; and graduated M.D. there in 1566, examined by Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus was an influential French humanist, logician, and educational reformer. A Protestant convert, he was killed during the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Early life:...
and Fabricius.
He wrote on the Great Comet of 1577
Great Comet of 1577
The Great Comet of 1577 was a comet that passed close to Earth during the year 1577 AD. It was viewed by people all over Europe, including famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. From his observations of the comet, Brahe was able to discover that comets and similar objects travel above the Earth's...
; at that time he was town physician in Utrecht
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
. In 1581 he became professor of medicine at the University of Leiden. He had already a reputation and good contacts with humanist scholars; and was appointed as senior to Gerardus Bontius, an earlier physician on the faculty.
He was a pioneer of the bedside teaching of medicine, and has been given credit for his methods From Padua he brought not only anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
in the tradition of Vesalius
Vesalius
Andreas Vesalius was a Flemish anatomist, physician, and author of one of the most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica . Vesalius is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. Vesalius is the Latinized form of Andries van Wesel...
, but anatomical demonstrations and practical clinical work. It is not clear, however, if the 1591 proposal by Heurnius and Bontius to implement practical teaching on the Paduan lines was accepted officially. The physician Otto Heurnius
Otto Heurnius
Otto Heurnius was a Dutch physician, theologian and philosopher.-Life:He succeeded his father Johannes Heurnius as professor of medicine at the University of Leiden; and took over anatomy teaching from Pieter Pauw from 1617. Along side his practical anatomy teaching, he had the care of a very...
was his son; Heurnius's ideas on teaching were transmitted widely through Otto, 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...
, Govert Bidloo
Govert Bidloo
Govert Bidloo or Govard Bidloo was a Dutch Golden Age physician, anatomist, poet and playwright. He was the personal physician of William III of Orange-Nassau, Dutch stadholder and king of England....
and Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave was a Dutch botanist, humanist and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital. His main achievement was to demonstrate the relation of symptoms to lesions...
. After his father's death, Otto put together his lectures, published in the Opera Omnia, covering medecine both in theory and as a practical discipline.