Between 1474 and 1479, the early humanist Thomas Ödenhofer (d. after 1481) wrote a poetic letter addressed to the Munich physician Balthasar Mansfeld (ca. 1440-1503). In his elegiac poem, the author cited numerous aphorisms in which the possibilities and limits of medicine are illuminated. The text is largely based on the satirical “Speculum stultorum” written by Nigel of Longchamps (d. after 1200), which still enjoyed great popularity in early humanist times. In this article, Ödenhofer’s poetic letter is edited and historically interpreted for the first time.
Optical instrumentation, as a modern technology, was born with the invention of the telescope and microscope and the geometrical theory of image formation. The development of optical instrumentation has been closely linked to ideas about the optical functioning of the human eye, including the old but questionable metaphysical idea that the eye is a perfect optical system. We analyse how this notion shaped the research paths followed by some of the most important contributors of optical instrumentation, from Kepler (1571-1630) to Helmholtz (1821-1894). It is shown that this idea influenced crucial aspects of scientific practice such as the definition of scientific purposes, ways of arguing and reasoning, and the establishment of new hypotheses. It even inspired the design and development of new optical instruments. During the 19th century, the presupposition of the eye as a perfect optical instrument lost popularity due to better knowledge of the anatomy of the human eye and its optical properties, and the growing influence of Darwin’s (1809-1882) theory of natural selection.
This is a survey of the early publications by Aurel Babeş (alone or together with Constantin Daniel) and by George Papanicolaou on the cytologic method for cervical cancer diagnosis, against the background of the 19th and early 20th century history of the tension between histopathology and cytopathology aims to add a new dimension to a priority dispute.
The estate of the Ulm city doctor Johann Franc (1649-1725) contains a previously unknown plague cure from the 18th century. It is based on the works “Auch das ein mensch zeichen gewun” by Engelin (around 1400), the “Pestbrief an die Frau von Plauen” (1366), “Der Sinn der höchsten Meister von Paris” (around 1350) and the Prague “Sendbrief” (1371). Franc compiled a new plague order in Latin from the writings available in the respective regional dialects from the period between 1349 and 1400.
Paul Wittich (ca. 1546-ca. 1587) from Wrocław (formerly Breslau) is one of the most mysterious and controversial figures of the early-modern astronomy/mathematics. The mystery surrounding him lies mainly in the scarcity of our knowledge about his life – be it professional or private. The controversy, on the other hand – in his so far unexplained role in the emergence of logarithms, and of what is known today as the geo-heliocentric model of the Universe, usually associated with the name of Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), thus called the Tychonic system. Also, his relations to the Wittenberg interpretation of the Copernican theory, and with the individual representatives of this interpretation, have not been satisfactorily explained so far. For some time now, it has been known that Wittich’s maternal uncle might have played some important role in the latter. Strangely enough, this knowledge has not led to any research into his family background with the eventual goal of identifying that uncle. Although he was a maternal uncle, yet in the light of immanently paternal character of the 16th century. European societies, it seems that the main route to the identification of members of maternal side of somebody’s family goes nevertheless via the father of that individual. Therefore, we have undertaken research into the identity of Wittich’s father, which we present in this text.
