Theodor Kerckring
Encyclopedia
Theodor Kerckring or Dirk Kerckring (sometimes Kerckeringh or Kerckerinck) (baptized 22 July 1638 - 2 November 1693) was a Dutch anatomist and chemical physician.
Kerckring was born as the son of the Amsterdam
merchant and VOC
captain Dirck Kerckring and Margaretha Bas (daughter of Dirck Bas, a former mayor of Amsterdam). In the second half of the 1650s he was a pupil at the Latin School in Amsterdam of Franciscus van den Enden
(at the same time as the philosopher Benedictus de Spinoza), before studying medicine at Leiden University under Franciscus Sylvius
. Around 1660 he was painted by Jurgen Ovens
. In 1667 he was visited by Cosimo III de' Medici, interested in new developments in science and curious to see his collection of anatomical objects.
Several sources reveal that Kerckring remained on good terms with Van den Enden, whose daughter Clara Maria he married in 1671. In order to marry the 27 year old woman, who had a limp
, Kerckring became a Roman Catholic. She helped her father teach Latin
and Spinoza seems to have been interested in her.
Although further details of his early life are sketchy, it is known that he spent much of his medical career prior to 1675 in Amsterdam
at Singel
. Afterwards he travelled throughout continental Europe, settling in Hamburg
in 1678. (He owned a few houses and a chapel, which do not exist anymore, since the Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
was built there). In 1683 he invited his old friend Niels Stensen, once one of the leading anatomists but converted to catholicism. Nielsen, becoming a priest in Florence
and bisshop in Münster
, needed new position. Kerckring helped Stensen with an appointment in Hamburg and Stensen asked the Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de' Medici to help Kerckring with a post. Then both men were able to share experiences and ideas.
Kerckring is remembered for his Spicilegium anatomicum, which is an anatomical
atlas of clinical observations, medical curiosities, autopsy
discoveries along with general anatomical information. He is credited with describing Kerckring's ossicles, which is an occasional ossification centre in the occipital bone
that appears around the 16th week of gestation
. He also provided a comprehensive description of the folds of the mucous membrane of the small intestine
. These anatomical folds go by several different names, including the valves of Kerckring
, Kerckring's folds, plicae circulares and valvulae conniventes. Kerckring used a microscope made by Spinoza.
Kerckring was born as the son of the Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
merchant and VOC
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
captain Dirck Kerckring and Margaretha Bas (daughter of Dirck Bas, a former mayor of Amsterdam). In the second half of the 1650s he was a pupil at the Latin School in Amsterdam of Franciscus van den Enden
Franciscus van den Enden
Franciscus van den Enden was a former Jesuit, Neo-Latin poet, physician, art dealer, philosopher and plotter against Louis XIV of France and is mainly known as the teacher of Baruch de Spinoza . His name is also written as 'Van den Ende', 'Van den Eijnde', 'Van den Eijnden', etc...
(at the same time as the philosopher Benedictus de Spinoza), before studying medicine at Leiden University 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...
. Around 1660 he was painted by Jurgen Ovens
Jürgen Ovens
Jürgen Ovens , also known as Georg, or Jurriaen Ovens whilst in the Netherlands, was a portrait painter from North Frisia and, according to Arnold Houbraken, a pupil of Rembrandt...
. In 1667 he was visited by Cosimo III de' Medici, interested in new developments in science and curious to see his collection of anatomical objects.
Several sources reveal that Kerckring remained on good terms with Van den Enden, whose daughter Clara Maria he married in 1671. In order to marry the 27 year old woman, who had a limp
Limp
A limp is a type of asymmetric abnormality of the gait. Limping may be caused by pain, weakness, neuromuscular imbalance, or a skeletal deformity. The most common underlying cause of a painful limp is physical trauma however in the absence of trauma other serious causes such as septic arthritis,...
, Kerckring became a Roman Catholic. She helped her father teach Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Spinoza seems to have been interested in her.
Although further details of his early life are sketchy, it is known that he spent much of his medical career prior to 1675 in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
at Singel
Singel (Amsterdam)
The Singel is a canal in Amsterdam which encircled the city in the Middle Ages. It served as a moat around the city until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond the Singel. The canal runs from the IJ bay, near Central Station, to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river...
. Afterwards he travelled throughout continental Europe, settling in 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...
in 1678. (He owned a few houses and a chapel, which do not exist anymore, since the Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
is the Hauptbahnhof for the German city of Hamburg. It was opened in 1906 to replace 4 terminal stations. Hamburg Hauptbahnhof is operated by DB Station&Service...
was built there). In 1683 he invited his old friend Niels Stensen, once one of the leading anatomists but converted to catholicism. Nielsen, becoming a priest in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and bisshop in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, needed new position. Kerckring helped Stensen with an appointment in Hamburg and Stensen asked the Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de' Medici to help Kerckring with a post. Then both men were able to share experiences and ideas.
Kerckring is remembered for his Spicilegium anatomicum, which is an anatomical
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...
atlas of clinical observations, medical curiosities, autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
discoveries along with general anatomical information. He is credited with describing Kerckring's ossicles, which is an occasional ossification centre in the occipital bone
Ossification of occipital bone
thumb|right|Figure 3 : Occipital bone at birth.The planum occipitale [Fig. 3] of the squama of the occipital bone is developed in membrane, and may remain separate throughout life when it constitutes the interparietal bone; the rest of the bone is developed in cartilage.The number of nuclei for the...
that appears around the 16th week of gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
. He also provided a comprehensive description of the folds of the mucous membrane of the small intestine
Small intestine
The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to...
. These anatomical folds go by several different names, including the valves of Kerckring
Circular folds
The circular folds are large valvular flaps projecting into the lumen of the bowel.-Composition:...
, Kerckring's folds, plicae circulares and valvulae conniventes. Kerckring used a microscope made by Spinoza.
Works
- Theodori Kerckringii ... Opera Omnia Anatomica : Continentia Specilegivm Anatomicvm, Osteogeniam Foetvvm Nec Non Anthropogeniæ Ichnographiam ; Accuratissimis Figuris æri incisis illustrata. - Editio secunda. - Lugduni Batavorum
- Commentarius in currum triumphalem Antimonii Basilii Valentini, a se latinitate donatum. - Amstelodami: Sumptibus Andreæ Frisii, 1671.
- The Triumphal Chariot Of Antimony / By Basilius Valentinus. With the commentary of Theodore Kerckringius, being the Latin version publ. at Amsterdam ... 1685, transl. into English and German
External links
- The Triumphal Chariot Of Antimony
- http://www.mbamericana.com/othercategories.medical.htm
- http://www.ritmanlibrary.nl/c/p/h/bel_50.html