Death Defied History of Science and Medicine Library VOLUME 18 Death Defied The Anatomy Lessons of Frederik Ruysch By Luuc Kooijmans Translated by Diane Webb LEIDEN • BOSTON 2011 On the cover: Portrait of Frederik Ruysch by Jurriaan Pool, 1702 (Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam). This book was originally published in Dutch by the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (Netherlands Journal of Medicine), Bohn Stafleu van Loghum, in 2004. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) for the financial support that made this translation possible. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kooijmans, L. [Doodskunstenaar. English] Death defied : the anatomy lessons of Frederik Ruysch / by Luuc Kooijmans ; translated by Diane Webb. p. cm. — (History of science and medicine library, ISSN 1872-0684 ; v. 18) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-18784-9 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Ruysch, Frederik, 1638–1731. 2. Anatomists—Netherlands—Biography. I. Title. II. Series: History of science and medicine library ; v. 18. [DNLM: 1. Ruysch, Frederik, 1638–1731. 2. Anatomists—Netherlands—Biography. 3. Anatomy—history—Netherlands. 4. History, 17th Century—Netherlands. 5. History, 18th Century—Netherlands. WZ 100] QM16.R89K6613 2010 611.0092—dc22 [B] 2010036399 ISSN 1872-0684 ISBN 978 90 04 18784 9 Copyright 2011 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. 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CONTENTS List of Figures ...................................................................................... ix Prologue in St Petersburg .................................................................. xiii Chapter One The Anatomy Lesson .............................................. 1 Apothecary’s Apprentice ............................................................... 2 Anatomical Knowledge ................................................................. 6 Heroes .............................................................................................. 10 Examination .................................................................................... 15 Family ............................................................................................... 16 Louis de Bils .................................................................................... 18 Discoveries ....................................................................................... 23 Idle Boasting .................................................................................... 25 Vivisection ....................................................................................... 32 Descartes .......................................................................................... 37 Research ........................................................................................... 41 Preservation ..................................................................................... 44 Secret Formulas .............................................................................. 46 Doctorate ......................................................................................... 50 Confrontation with De Bils .......................................................... 52 Chapter Two Established and Envied .......................................... 61 Appointment in Amsterdam ........................................................ 62 Medical Bastions ............................................................................. 65 An Established Anatomist ............................................................ 71 Hardened Wax ................................................................................ 73 Research ........................................................................................... 76 Professorship ................................................................................... 78 Anatomy Lesson ............................................................................. 81 Intellectuals in Power .................................................................... 85 Midwifery ......................................................................................... 88 Opposition ....................................................................................... 95 Gluttonous Tipplers ....................................................................... 100 vi contents Chapter Three Under Fire .............................................................. 109 Accusations ...................................................................................... 109 Intimidation .................................................................................... 118 Opposing Ruysch ........................................................................... 121 A Nobody ........................................................................................ 127 New Knowledge, Old Certainties ................................................ 134 The Insolvent Estate ....................................................................... 137 Radical Supporters ......................................................................... 142 Chapter Four Ruysch at Work ...................................................... 149 The Surgeons’ Guild ....................................................................... 149 The Battle for Bodies ..................................................................... 153 The Amsterdam Hortus Botanicus .............................................. 159 The House on the Bloemgracht ................................................... 165 A Private Museum ......................................................................... 176 Idle Inventions ................................................................................ 184 Surgery ............................................................................................. 192 The Workplace ................................................................................ 199 Chapter Five Rivals ......................................................................... 207 Perfection ......................................................................................... 207 Rivalry .............................................................................................. 213 King Stupidity ................................................................................. 220 Discrediting Rivals ......................................................................... 228 Malice Aforethought ...................................................................... 236 Peter the Great in Amsterdam ..................................................... 241 From Brain to Scrotum ................................................................. 253 Stone-cutting ................................................................................... 260 Ruysch, Rau and Bidloo ................................................................ 265 Chapter Six The Collection ............................................................ 269 Capriccio Anatomico ...................................................................... 270 Specimens ........................................................................................ 279 Animals ............................................................................................ 285 Wonders ........................................................................................... 292 The Republic of Letters ................................................................. 295 Lessons ............................................................................................. 300 Deceit ................................................................................................ 306 Visitors ............................................................................................. 310 Physico-theology ............................................................................. 317 contents vii Chapter Seven The Return of Peter the Great ............................ 321 Collection for Sale .......................................................................... 322 A Return Visit ................................................................................. 329 Secret ................................................................................................ 334 The Collection Moves East ........................................................... 341 Chapter Eight Reproduction .......................................................... 347 Rachel ............................................................................................... 347 A Dutiful Father ............................................................................. 350 Hendrik Ruysch’s Lessons in Obstetrics .................................... 355 The Placenta ...................................................................................