ANTONIO VALLISNERI (MAY 3, 1661—JANUARY 18, 1730) ON THE SECOND CENTENARY OF HIS DEATH “MAXIMA PARVO TEMPORE MOLIMUR” By JOSEPH FRANCHINI

MODENA, ITALY

ANTONIO VALLISNERI often phenomena of nature were explained / vk related that one day when in a clever but deceptive way, and /yk he was twenty-three years the mind was encumbered with prej- ■**“ old, he was introduced by udices and confused ideas vaguely his father Lorenzo, a doctor-in-law, conceived by a few initiators. to who was then Theologians, Jesuits and monks ill in bed. The latter exclaimed in a held the reins of teaching which con- tone which carried conviction, “There sisted of dogmatic conceptions and it is no remedy for my illness.” The was impossible to escape from these studious young man who was as yet doctrines without embracing a liberal undecided as to whether to follow the or secular profession, in which pre- career of his father and of his ancestors vailed the Burgundica philosophy, or whether to study medicine, was the Dcmocritica or corpuscular the- strangely struck by such a declaration ory, which gave a better explanation coming from one of the most cele- of natural phenomena. Such was the brated doctors of the time. Another study of medicine in 1600. less thoughtful mind would have been The prospect of being guided by discouraged by the resigned exclama- the great Malpighi who had given tion of the Master, but Vallisneri on him such a hearty welcome was for the contrary felt a growing desire the young Vallisneri an incentive to within him to study medicine. So overcome all uncertainty, and a stimu- plucking up courage he asked his lus so keen that he immediately dedi- father if he had any objection to his cated himself to his studies and to taking up the study of medicine and experiments in anatomy. He worked he asked Malpighi if he would accept with such zeal that he fell ill, and him as his pupil. In his young mind, gained at the same time reproach where enthusiasm was the blind and from Malpighi and the title of “ Priorc masterful guide, there grew a keen degli scolari.” desire to solve the mysteries of nature. Nobility, riches and caste, a rigor- This desire had led him in his youth to ous upbringing and a respect for catch birds, frogs, lizards and serpents, family traditions, made him a rigid and having skilfully dissected them, observer of his own social duties. he placed their intestines on boards. Among his ancestors, invested with But he was not always encouraged titles of nobility and feudal rights, by his parents in this occupation. lords of Vallisnera and of innumerable The studies of that time were lands and castles, were Giov. Maria, turned towards Aristotelian doctrine, Governor of Cremona, a certain An- a philosophy of words full of obscure tonio, Governor of Reggio, a certain and abstract reasoning, whereby the Prospero, Abbot of Reggio, author of some literary works; and in his new doctrines from them deducted with time were still living Mauro, one of the greatest caution fiom evident facts. the Counts of Nigone, a Benedic- In considering the mysteries of nature, tine Abbot; his uncle Guiscppe, the doctor of the Princes of Este, and his father Lorenzo, Capitano di Ragionc in Tresillico for the Duke of Modena. The favorable conditions of his family, his teachers and environment (Bo- logna) helped to produce good results in his scientific education. He graduated at Reggio in 1634 in accordance with the edict of his sovereign, the Duke of Modena, who would not permit his subjects to graduate outside the jurisdiction of his dominions. He soon returned to Bo- logna to resume his studies in medicine and to perfect himself in practical medicine in hospitals, where he had Salani as a teacher. The rivalry be- tween Sbaraglia and Malpighi which also generally involved the students, did not affect Vallisneri. He nobly remained at his post as use your own sense verifying with eyes the devoted pupil of Malpighi, al- and hands what others have declared though he did not disdain to frequent in word and writing. the lessons of the eager adversary, who So Vallisneri wandered about for used his eloquence in his machina- two years from one to the other of tions against any follower of experi- the most important Universities. He mental theory, whether he was de attended the courses of Florio in prac- Graaf or Malpighi. It must be added tical medicine at , of Grandi also that Vallisneri’s behavior was in surgery, of Testi in chemistry and always straight and honorable; for learned from the latter who was the on leaving his teacher at the end of discoverer of sugar of milk and other his studies, he received from him the remedies, the art of making medi- most excellent advice which shows cines. He desired to get instruction, the loftiness of feeling of the writer, for the purpose of comparison, in rather than the qualities of the the ancient systems, and he therefore disciple. pursued the wonderful course of les- sons (at ) given by Del Bo, who It is advisable never to write about theories and systems founded only on was a cultured and persuasive sup- talent, because they are subject to porter of the ancient school of medi- changes under new discoveries and theo- cine. From there he went to ries. Treat only results of observations whither he was attracted by the re- and experiments which are always true nown of Pompco Sacchi who had just in every age and endeavor to produce published “Iris Febrium” in which he sought to reconcile the old with the remarks about the strange origin of new doctrine of fevers. many insects. In 1689 he closed his preparatory In this review, he pictures Pliny and Malpighi exchanging ideas in long discussions in the philosophic tone, characteristic of the century and of the school. The editor Albrizzi did not always publish the exact ideas of Vallisneri in the Galleria, but altered them to such an extent as to provoke the keenest resentment in the author and finally his work ceased to appear in the famous Galleria. But nevertheless Vallisneri’s renown spread among men of science, and the offered the young doctor the chair of Practical Medicine. Vallisneri was a genuine reformer, but he did not wish to burst in with new theories upon a University where the memory of Del Bo was still fresh. career and established himself at Reg- Although he felt he had the support gio Emilia. He began an innumerable of Sacchi, he made a memorable series of experiments and observations opening speech at the beginning of his upon the phenomena of nature and teaching career on the subject “Studia his work was interrupted only by his recensorium non evertunt veterum death. He placed in his garden many Medicinam sed confirmant” with kinds of trees and animals which he which he intended to prepare the himself had collected on frequent minds of his very large audience, excursions. among whom were rectors, teachers,

He began to study the silk worm, members of the nobility and students, repeating the observations of Mal- for the modern doctrines, since science pighi and correcting them on several is the fruit of evolution not of revolu- points. Afterwards he resumed the tion. But he did not think of conceal- experiments of Redi “about the gen- ing his views. The long series of dis- eration of insects,” and he discovered coveries of the wary modernists, the many mistakes and cleared away many new doctrines in chemistry, many doubts. In two conferences, anatomy, botany and mathematics, published in the Galleria di Minerva, the great number of demonstrations 'edited in Venice under the patronage from the various academies where the of , he made many keenest competition inspired princes and learned men, all these had created culation of the blood, and attributed a new art for solving the mysteries of to the heart its muscular structure nature. It was a high road illuminated when the course of centuries had

not yet produced Malpighi, Har- vey, Borclli and Bellini? Pleurisy had been seen and described by Enophil; Tcophilus before de Graaf discovered the vascular and tubular by sunshine and the only one adapted substance of the testicle. Epheseus to lead the mind towards the lofty Rufo saw the tubes of the uterus heights of Truth. Did not Seneca before Faloppio Cosman localized the say “Nemo ab altero potest vinci nisi functions of the mind in the gray dum ascenditur. ” So it was folly to matter of the brain. And we owe to stop at the theories of the ancients, Hoffman the demonstration of the worthy of respect, it is true, because pancreatic duct which is usually called in them we find the beginning of by the name of Virsung, and to Ves- things; but modern man with all his pcrus we owe the first description of means of investigation faces the task the hepatic gland. “Mundo nihil of demonstrating these beliefs which extingui sed vicibus descendcrc atque we cannot destroy. rcsurgcre,” said Tacitus. Hippocrates clearly understood the But very different from the prelude functions of transpiration even with- were his actual lessons, and one of the out seeing the cutaneous glands. In first things to be demolished was the his description of the pulmonary theory “De Fcbribus” of Avicenna, “sponge” lies all the anatomy of the with all the structure of his philo- Malpighian vesicles. Ovulation in the sophic conceptions. It was in fact time mystery of generation was for the to abandon the famous theory “sit ancient father of medicine a fact calor extraneus accensus in corde et which admitted of no doubt, nor had proccdens ab co mediantibus spiritu” it appeared differently in the concep- and it was necessary to destroy the tion of Aristotle, Plutarch, Emped- opinion that the stomach and intes- ocles and Theophrastus and in the tines and other tissues were provided Egyptian hieroglyphics. Had not Hip- with glands while the “conglobate” pocrates perhaps understood the cir- served to absorb the excessive humid- ity without any other function of depriving himself of sleep between one their own. task and another. A publication of Imagine the reaction of the philoso- his “About sea fossils which are found on the mountains” written one summer in reply to a request from some of his friends about the state of the world before and after the flood, raised bitter criticism in France, where the Royal Academy of Science main- tained that these sea fossils were of plastic origin if not mere freaks of nature. For his work on the genera- tion of worms in the human body, he was unjustly attacked by the French Andry, who said many false things, and appropriating some of the discoveries of Vallisneri passed them on as his own, even pretending not to know the Italian scientist’s name. The criticism which arose against another publication in 1715 in the form of a letter “Academical Lessons” phers of the time! New ideas were about the origin of fountains was just exposed to the light of experiments, as harsh. but they contrasted horribly with An anonymous person, who may the predominant conceptions of the have been the Florentine Nicolo Gual- school. Hence arose anger, libel, accu- tieri, a doctor, printed a satirical sations and threats. A struggle of pamphlet in which the eternal ques- pigmies such as Malpighi had been tion of the springs was brought up engaged in at Messina and , in an imaginary discussion at Parnas- a necessary training for one who must sus and submitted by Pliny, Aristotle, rise, and the crucial turning point Seneca, Virgil and Ovid to the judg- in the history of great men. ment of Apollo. The theory of atmos- And Vallisneri advanced against pheric conglomeration maintained by these rivals with lowered visor; he Vallisneri was rejected in favor of accepted battle, and repelling every the marine influence, with an invoca- attack, revealed the batteries of his tion to God to keep away from Europe experimental arguments. He found the great clouds and snows, which adherents and reformed the ancient fed the rivers Paraguay and Amazon University of Padua. Both from the existing on earth, before any cloud chair and from his house, which was or drop of rain appeared as declared open to all students, he made himself by the Holy Scriptures. But the the apostle of the new doctrines. indomitable energy of Vallisneri was Lessons and consultations in speech unshaken by such a small thing. The and writing filled the hours free from origin of springs had long been studied experiments; so that it was rightly by him and elaborated in numerous said of him that he spent his time excursions on the Modenese and Tus- can Apennines, during one of which the fly and the “Oestrus” of the horse, he was the guest of Prince Ferdinand he followed up his researches on all of Tuscany who entertained him for a insects and worms from the state of long time at his villa at Pratolino where there were many springs. From Leghorn he wished to cross over to Genoa but was wrecked after having gone a few miles. He resumed the voyage and visited the coast as far as Superba, and on his way there and on his return voyage, he visited the local scientific institutions, bring- ing home copious collections of plants, animals, minerals and fossils which he put into a Museum, where they were accurately put in order and classified together with the marine productions found on the Alps, in Germany, in France, in England, in Holland and even in the Congo. He later on added to them the most interesting and varied collection of rare objects, natural freaks, antique objects, medals, arms, vases, sepul- chral urns of every country and of every age, scientific instruments and a valuable library. He gave a description of each object discovered, and he larva and chrysalis to their final stage drew wise deductions. of growth. In his book on “Marine Bodies” The complicated theory of the he describes the “Salsa di Sassuolo,” apologists for putrefaction which was the springs of Sasso, the salt springs considered to be the origin of insects of Querzola and Cassola and other and mice, the supporters of the theory mineral springs, and he ends with a of perfect and imperfect beings re- catalogue of many plants and aquatic ceived a terrible blow from Vallisneri, insects. who discovered with marvelous rapid- Then studying the stratification of ity of intuition individualizations as the surface of the earth and the in- yet unknown, with their respective clination of rocks, he found the origin cycles of development, from the mil- of the springs and put forth the dew of corn to the ant worm, to the theory of the formation of sedimen- cucullinum sputum, the butterfly of tary rocks in the bottom of the sea. the Siloptero, the parasites of the Contradicting the theory of sponta- willow and of many other plants, the neous generation he showed how each mud nests of wasps, of the ichneumon organism must be born from its own fly and of wild bees. He discovered seed, “Omne vivum ex ovo.” their larvae in their strange recesses Starting with the development of of mud, of wood, of putrefying sub- stances, wherever the ingenious many of these animals which he had mother had deposited them. caught in Tunis. The life and habits All the clever conjectures on butter- of the chameleon carried him into the

flies contained in a French work at vast field of lizards, frogs, toads, and that time and very much quoted, he soon proved the fallacy of the “Entretiens de morale,” were re- legends about their poisonous origin vealed as a fantastic romance. and their manner of reproduction. Since the bitter criticism aroused by And since in the biologist appeared so many new theories did not cease, the genius of the doctor, it is not Vallisneri published a new treatise difficult to follow the rapid progress on the origin, development and habits from one scientific truth to another of various insects in 1713. In this and to accompany the discoverer in work he speaks of the insects of his study of the lues of the ox, of the the rose bush and of other parasites pestilential worm, of the poison of of plants. He passes on to a general the scorpion, of the juice of American division and description of insects, aloes, of a description of a calf-mon- the birth of the flea from the egg, ster, and of other freaks, of the ovary the origin of the seeds of seaweed, of the eel, of the bladder stone of to the life of the fly, and of the the horse, of the flowers of “Lenticula worm which lodges in the nose and palustris.” He further studied human frontal sinus of the sheep, and of worms, the tape worm, lice infection, other animals, and he ends with a the fermentation of wine to form vin- very careful “Anatomy of the Os- egar, with great facility passing from trich.” In 1715 he published the “His- one argument to another still more tory of the African Chameleon” difficult and more complicated, in anat- describing many parts of this animal omy, physiology and biochemistry. which had escaped the attention of Vallisneri, who was then a member members of the Royal Academy of of the Academy of the Investigators Science of France. His friend Cestoni of Germany, dedicated to Charles vi, of Leghorn procured for him a great the Roman Emperor, his wonderful volume of “History of Generation” and about another who had swallowed in which he passes from the sperm needles, alternated with madrigals and human ovary to those of animals, and political questions, and caused analyzing all that had been previously discovered and discussing this with the members of the French Academy, also describing his long series of experi- ments. The volume ends with a treatise on sterility, of which he indi- cates the cause and the remedy. The connection between all created things, the sole origin and the only possible system of the evolution of species, are illustrated with an amaz- ing clearness considering the time in which they were written, the number of the experiments, and rapidity with which they were done. He dedicated his book “About sea fossils which are found in the moun- tains” to the Contessa Clelia Grillo Borromeo. It is our duty to say a few words here about this beautiful and energetic scientific woman who her house to be both sought out and was both supporter and devoted friend avoided at the same time. to Vallisneri. Vallisneri was infatuated with this She was born of the Genoese family woman and although in the letters of Dukes of Grillo, and married a he wrote her, we see a sentiment of certain Count Borromeo, a man of pure admiration and gratitude for little worth, but of a noble Milanese her kind hospitality, everything in- family, from which had risen St. clines us to believe that his feelings Carlo and Cardinal Federigo. This were of a different kind. gentlewoman had nobility, beauty, Vallisneri married a certain Laura wealth and vast culture. She was of the noble family of Mattacodi and familiar with the various natural found in her a model wife, by whom sciences and spoke many languages he had eighteen children. One of these in addition to the purest Italian. She named Antonio, like himself, was well conversed brilliantly in French, versed in and became the Spanish, German, Arabic, Hebrew, natural follower of his father and Chinese, Greek and Latin. It is not made a collection of his works. But to be wondered that she welcomed Laura lacked the fascination of the to her salon the greatest men to dis- vivacious Countess, who lured him cuss the most varied subjects in by repeated invitations to accept her literature and science. Experiments hospitality and overwhelmed him with on the poison of the viper, lessons kindness and gifts, not the least of on supposed monstrosities, discussions which was her miniature in a frame about a woman with a double womb set with diamonds inscribed with the motto by Giovanale, “Irridens rocal expressions of praise and sym- curas et gaudia vulgi.” Vallisneri pathy would have caused a Puritan describes her as an honorable woman, to disapprove and he would not have

an exemplary mother, and so modest forgiven a lady, the mother of six as to declare that she knew nothing children, for using in addressing a although she so cleverly discussed learned man such phrases as “dear geometry, analytics and algebra; a philosopher,” “consolation inspired woman who was kind-hearted, rich, by your most partial heart, ” “philoso- of noble, modest and grave appear- pher not only of my mind, but of my ance, charming and beautiful, very heart,” etc. Although much younger witty and vivacious. He says that she than she, Vallisneri died forty-seven was of “average height but propor- years before Donna Clelia. She tionately built, disdainful of the vani- plunged into anti-Austrian politics ties of women, virtuously superior in favor of the Spaniards who re- to all worldliness, interested only in minded her of her distant origin and culture and learning.” Such is the she suffered every kind of persecution appreciation which he wrote to his at the hands of the Empress M. friend Doctor Giorgi of Florence, and Teresa. Her salon was closed by from it, laying aside the bombastic sovereign orders, because of family style and praise which are character- adversity, and the fact that her istic of the time, emerge expressions friends had fled. Deprived of her riches, which far exceed simple admiration. she spent the last years of her very It was the wonderful seventeenth long life, for she reached the age of century, an epoch full of frivolity ninety-three, in poverty. She wan- and marked courtesy. Receptions, dered about always working against balls and madrigals brought ladies and the hateful domination, more out cavaliers together, without husbands of feminine obstinacy than out of having the slightest reason for raising patriotism. objections. In another age those recip- The Spanish occupation which was full of haughty pride and disdain for the Arconti of Italy, of the Ricoverati the oppressed, was no less detestable of Padua, of the Dumb of Reggio, than the tyranny of Hobkowitz, lieu- of the Nameless of Bra, etc. tenant at Milan of His Majesty In 1720 in place of Lancisi he was Imperiale Cattoliea. appointed Archiatcr to the Pope, a The publications of Vallisneri on very high position which he declined, biology and medicine may be counted so as not to abandon his teaching at by the hundred in all the periodicals Padua, as he had declined the post of of the time. Among his principal Doctor to the Court of Savoy in works are those written on the vermi- Turin. On the other hand he accepted nous constitution of horses and oxen, the post of Doctor of the Emperor pestilential worms in general, the use Charles vi to whom he dedicated and abuse of beverages, of warm and “The History of Generation” and cold baths, experiments on splenec- from whom he received the gift of tomy, digestion produced bv hydro- a rich necklace of gold with medal- chloric acid, the use of quinine, blood- lions. Rinaldo 1, Duke of Modena, letting, discussions on legal medicine, conferred on him the title of Cavalierc, blistering, epilepsy, questions of transmissible to his sons. Such honors pathologic and histologic anatomy. hardly affected him and, far from Other publications contained a de- making him proud, seemed rather to tailed study of an acephalous fetus, inspire him to become more and more of twins joined together by their kind and affable, so that he replied abdomen, of an ox’s brain which had with his own hand to an enormous petrified and which was diagnosed by quantity of letters, a great part of Vallisneri as a cerebral osteoma, works which were of a scientific nature or treating of esophageal stenosis, of medical consultations, very many of the continuous vomiting of pregnancy, them also complimentary letters; and of ascites, of cerebral abscess, of the at the same time, he visited the pious composition of the urine, of men- Cardinal Barbarino of Padua and struation, etc. with him he retired in solitude for All these works brought him reputa- religious meditation. tion and esteem. His “Medical The love which he lavished on his Advices” were very much appreciated friends was an exquisite sentiment and in every book or publication of which had a certain deep fatherly the time, not only in Italy but also tenderness and was extended to every- abroad, appeared dedications, observa- body. He was a fervent patriot at a tions, letters and discussions addressed time when it was customary to write to Vallisneri, who in the meantime scientific works in Latin and he was appointed a member of numerous hastened to point out that a patriotic societies, of the Academics of the Italian must be able to write in the Physiocritics of Siena, of the Investi- purest style, the language of Dante, gators of Germany, of the Societies and for this reason he preferred to of Florence and Rossano, of the Royal write his own works in Italian. Society of London (presented by Being an excellent father he per- William Corlibun and his secretary sonally took charge of the education Sloan), of the Institute of Science of of his children, and we have already Bologna, of the Arcadi of Rome, of told how Antonio profited by this. being the only son who survived him, which he had caught live days pre- for he lost many of his children. In viously. To the doctors gathered in honor of the memory of his uncle, a consultation around him, he exclaimed doctor who had left him a considerable with Socratic wisdom, “pulsus bonus, fortune, he paid for the education urina bona pereunt patientes.” of four young boys of Scandiano, He was sixty-eight years and eight supervising their education. It is not months, and he left the world resigned out of place to remember that Flor- but discontented at his immature end ence wished to present him, while he as we gather from the following words still lived, with a medallion on one written by him to the Abbot Di Porzia side of which, among innumerable who wrote his biography after his allegorical figures, conspicuously ap- death. “Our life is too short and it peared a motto of Tertuliano, “De ends when in our prime we really anima tantum in modicis quantum in begin to know a little.” maximis.” Death came to him as it When the news of his death was has come to many other elect minds, brought to the great Antonio Muratori while in the full development of his he was heard to exclaim, “How long activity. He left many of his works will it take to produce such another uncompleted. as Vallisneri” and he was right, since On January 18, 1730, he peacefully it is not so easily said of another as passed away, well aware of his illness, it was written of Vallisneri senior, which was a pulmonary infection, “maxima parvo tempore molimur.”

[From Redi: Sonetti. Firenze, 1702.]