De oren aan het vat van de medische kennis

Johan van Beverwijck (1595-1647) is known as the author of two Dutch books in which he made medical knowledge accessible to laymen who did not have command of the Latin language. The Dordrecht doctor was open to the many new insights that arose in his time and shook the foundations of the ancient humoural stronghold of Aristotle, Hippocrates and Galen. A nearly forgotten book, Idea veterum medicinae (Opinions on medicine in antiquity), was recently translated into Dutch by the author of this article. It shows that Van Beverwijck remained a true humanist, who loved the ancient world and its culture. The book consists of an extensive compilation of comments by ancient philosophers, poets and historians on health and health care. Van Beverwijck believed his book would provide the tired practitioner with some distraction and might help the medical student to memorise his subject material. Moreover, he believed that some knowledge of the ancient world would deepen medical thinking.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.