Revised and improved by notes from reaumur and others by john hill, m. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Reading the book of nature in the dutch golden age, 15751715. The biblia naturae is the finest collection of microscopical observations ever produced by one worker.
Bible of nature, which is considered by many authorities to be the finest collection of microscopic observations ever produced by one person. In addition to the recent works cited in notes and references b,c,d, there is a thorough summary of swammerdams work in winsor 1976 e. The book of nature itself often repeats the authors earlier work, and contains many of the same illustrations, but it is a much more integrated and considered work, with references to the scholarship of others, a glossary and an index. This book, which contained work done mainly between 1668 and 1675, is the finest collection of microscopical observations ever produced by one worker, and some of the figures have never been excelled. Swammerdam article about swammerdam by the free dictionary. As a source of revelation, the book of nature remained moored to the christian faith and occupied a prominent location in western culture alongside sacred scripture.
However, he concluded in his book the book of nature ii that motion or irritation of the nerve alone is necessary to produce muscular motion. Jan swammerdam 16371680 jan swammerdam, a 17thcentury dutch microscopist, made major. Swammerdams historia insectorum generalis 1669 was known to merian. However, his greatest contribution to biology was his understanding of insect development and his demonstration that the same organism persists through its various. To modern readers, jan swammerdams book the bible of nature, or the history of insects reduced to distinct classes contains a paradox. Swammerdam definition of swammerdam by the free dictionary. In its scope and depth, swammerdams work far exceeded any other book of the time. Jan swammerdam 16371680 jan swammerdam, a 17thcentury dutch microscopist, made major discoveries in medicine and anatomy. He was one of the first people to use the microscope in. Swammerdam left many manuscripts which hermann boerhaave published in 1737 in two volumes called biblia naturae bible of nature. As part of his anatomical research, he carried out experiments on muscle contraction.
Bees, wasps, butterflies, and whatever is generated from caterpillars by metamorphosis, are said to have sprung from chance harvey, 1847, p. Swammerdam, jan article about swammerdam, jan by the free. In 17371738, a half century after his death, herman boerhaave translated swammerdams papers into latin and published them under the title biblia naturae book of nature. Although laying the basis for much of modern biology in particular entomology, the bible of nature is clearly very much of its time.
Jan jacbz swammerdam 16371680 jan swammerdam was a seventeenth century dutch microscopist and naturalist who is most famous for his microscopic observations and descriptions of insect development that were published posthumously as the bible of nature, but is more often referred to as the book of nature due to a mistranslation of the title. Jan swammerdam february 12, 1637 february 17, 1680 was a dutch biologist and. In its scope and depth, swammerdam s work far exceeded any other book of the time. Swammerdam did not believe the results of his own experiment, suggesting that they were the result of artifact. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections. Swammerdam and the transformation of the book of nature 4. His work on insects showed that the stages an insect life egg, larva, pupa, and adult are different forms of the same animal. The drawing, above, of the head of a male bee, is in a book from charles darwins personal library. Jan swammerdam 16371680 by matthew cobb from cultures of natural history edited by jardine, secord and spary swammerdam carried out his dazzling dissection with the aid of a microscope, still new technology in the 17th century, and he was among the best at it. History of insects by jan swammerdam, used abebooks. European science in the enlightenment and the discovery of.
Jan swammerdam february 12, 1637 february 17, 1680 was a dutch biologist and microscopist. He published historia insectorum generalis in 1669, but his collective work biblia naturae or the book of nature wasnt translated and published until 1737. Dec 20, 2012 swammerdam had sympathy, perhaps, with bourignons scrutiny of the book, sharing a similar attitude in his reading of the book of nature. In the book of nature, swammerdam states that he only observed under direct natural light, generally outside on summer mornings, bare. Pdf reading the book of nature in the dutch golden age, 1575. His work on insects demonstrated that the various phases during the life of an insectegg, larva, pupa, and adultare different forms of the same animal. Before he turned to religious contemplation his chief interest was. The frenchman thevenot who is to receive swammerdam s pens and manuscripts is a historical person who after swammerdam s death manages to publish at least one volume of his work under the title the bible of nature. At the theoretical level swammerdam developed a new argument in support of the preformationist position, the view that organisms are born already formed. In a number of letters he explains that he stopped his observations in the autumn and winter, for want of light. Jan swammerdam 12 february 1637 17 february 1680 was a dutch biologist and microscopist. An english translation of his entomological works by t. Collections of curiosities in the netherlands down to ca.
The main biographical sources for swammerdam are boerhaaves introduction to the book of nature and schierbeeks biographya. Jan swammerdam simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The book of nature, or, the history of insects usu digital collections. Jan swammerdam, dutch naturalist, considered the most accurate of classical microscopists, who was the first to observe and describe red blood cells 1658. The book of nature was acquiring greater authority, for its wisdom and as an unmediated source of natural and divine knowledge. The anatomist van horne in effect subsidized swammerdams anatomical dissections in amsterdam in 1667. Or, the history of insects, 1758 engraving cambridge university library. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. Swammerdams biblia naturae book of nature, published long after his death 173738, still stands as one of the finest oneman collections of microscopical observations. Hes also famous for his research on the human body, especially his discovery of valves in the lymphatic vessels swammerdam valves. Part of title page of swammerdams book of nature 1737. Translated from the dutch and latin original edition, by thomas flloyd. Historia insectorum generalis swammerdam, jan, heinrich.
Microscopic studies were extremely important to the development of darwins theories about evolution. Jan swammerdam 16371680 matthew cobb jan swammerdam, a 17thcentury dutch microscopist, made major discoveries in medicine and anatomy. A book in which god has gloriously described himself 5. He published historia insectorum generalis in 1669, but his collective work biblia naturae or the book of nature wasnt translated and published until. Jan swammerdam 16371680 jan swammerdam, a 17thcentury dutch microscopist, made major discoveries in. Jan swammerdam biography birthday, trivia scientist who2. Swammerdam completed medical studies in 1667 but never practiced medicine, devoting himself to microscopical investigations instead. Swammerdam died at age 43 of malaria and was buried in the eglise wallonne. Request pdf reading and writing the book of nature. Swammerdam and the transformation of the book of nature. Swammerdam s rejection of metamorphosis came from his refusal to accept the action of chance in nature, and was based on harveys interpretation of metamorphosis. The frenchman thevenot who is to receive swammerdams pens and manuscripts is a historical person who after swammerdams death manages to publish at least one volume of his work under the title the bible of nature. His work on insects demonstrated that the various phases during the life of an insect egg, larva, pupa, and adultare different forms of the same animal. The scientific ambition represented by the bible of nature is astonishing.
Jan swammerdam 16371680 by matthew cobb from cultures of natural history edited by jardine, secord and spary swammerdam carried out his dazzling dissection with the aid of a microscope, still new technology in the. The dutch natural scientist jan swammerdam 16371680 was a founder of comparative anatomy and entomology and was very skillful in the art of microdissection. Published in the us in august by bloomsbury 1596910364, 0743276094 isbn. In 1658, he was the first to observe and describe red. However, his greatest contribution to biology was his understanding of insect development and his demonstration that the same organism persists through its various stages. The present volume contains the entomological part of swammerdam s famous biblia naturae and is the first french translation.
In the book of nature, swammerdam states that he only observed under direct natural light, generally outside on summer mornings, bareheaded to allow the maximum amount of light to reach the lens, with the sweat pouring down my face, then writing up his results at night. Mar 31, 2017 by jan swammerdam 1 edition first published in 1792 read listen the book of nature. Critical analysis of the poem swammerdam by a s byatt essay. Swammerdam was a pioneer in insect anatomy and development cycle. Bees, wasps, butterflies, and whatever is generated from caterpillars by metamorphosis, are said to. Swammerdam synonyms, swammerdam pronunciation, swammerdam translation, english dictionary definition of swammerdam. In 1658, he was the first to observe and describe red blood cells. Jan swammerdam 16371680, authormatthew cobb, year2000 matthew cobb published 2000 biology abstract jan swammerdam, a 17thcentury dutch microscopist, made major discoveries in medicine and anatomy.
In addition to the recent works cited in notes and references b,c,d, there is a thorough summary of swammerdam s work in winsor 1976 e. The present volume contains the entomological part of swammerdams famous biblia naturae and is the first french translation. This english translation of the historia, published in 1758, was edited by the influential. Swammerdam warned the readers of his book of nature that the lens.
1208 433 5 1544 1231 229 1246 1575 752 892 724 789 852 1395 677 1591 1022 1350 1093 393 1115 1110 1232 773 257 1018 683 854 156 1372 1478