Hugh Ernest MacDermot - Jérôme Cardan

8/13/2019 Hugh Ernest MacDermot - Jérôme Cardan

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/hugh-ernest-macdermot-jerome-cardan 1/6

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MEN AND B O O K S : J E R O M E CARDAN

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JEROME CARDAN'

By H . E . M a c D e r m o t , M . D . , F . R . C . P . ( C )

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T h e r e are p r o b a b l y f e w n o t a b l e f i g u r e s i n

m e d i c i n e who h a v e r e c e i v e d so l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n i n

m e d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e as h a s J e r o m e C a r d a n . As e a r c h t h r o u g h t h at i n d i s p en s a b l e i n s t i t u t i o n ,t h e I n d e x M e d i c u s , p r o d u c e s o n l y a h a n d f u l o f

r e f e r e n c e s t o h i m , a n d many o f t h e s e , as m i g h t

b e e x p e c t e d , are i n I t a l i a n j o u r n a l s .I t may b e s a i d t h a t C a r d a n a d d e d l i t t l e o r

n o t h i n g t o our s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e o f m e d i c i n e ,

a n d , even i f h e d i d r i s e f a r a b o v e h i s c o n t e m -

p o r a r i e s as a p h y s i c i a n , h e was never a l e a d e r

i n m e d i c a l t h o u g h t , a n d gave no i m p e t u s t o re-s e a r c h . B u t a man o f s u c h u n u s u a l m e n t a lg i f t s , a n d .one w h o s e l i f e c o n t a i n e d s u c h sus-

t a i n e d d r a m a t i c i n c i d e n t , s h o u l d n o t b e so

c a s u a l l y p a s s e d b y . T h e b e s t s t u d i e s o f h i s l i f eh a v e b e e n made b y l a y a u t ho rs , b u t even o u t s i d e

o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n h e i s n o t n e a r l y so w e l l knownas i s h i s c o n t e m p o r a r y B e n v e n u t o C e l l i n i , w h o s en o t o r i e t y d e p e n d s n o t o n l y on h i s a c k n o w l e d g e da r t i s t i c g e n i u s , b u t a l s o on h i s u n r e s e r v e d con-

f e s s i o n s o f d e e d s o f v i o l e n c e w h i c h a t t h i s s a f e

d i s t a n c e o f t i m e we are p l e a s e d t o r e g a r d as

r o m a n t i c .

C a r d a n l i v e d a t a t i m e when a p h y s i c i a n w i t h

s u c h i n t e l l e c t u a l po w ers as h i s , a n d a mind as

i n d e p e n d e n t , m i g h t w e l l h a v e d o m i n a t e d h i s pro-

f e s s i o n . T h a t h e d i d n o t was d u e t o a c o m b i n a -

t i o n o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s , e s p e c i a l l y h i s p e r s o n a l

q u a l i t i e s , b u t t h e s e I w i l l n o t now d i s c u s s . T h e

m a i n f e a t u r e s o f h i s career w i l l b e f o u n d t o b e

o f s u f f i c i e n t i n t e r e s t i n t h e m s e l v e s . He was

b o r n i n 1 5 1 h i s f a t h e r b e i n g a p r o m i n e n tl a w y e r i n M i l a n , o f g o o d f a m i l y , a n d h i s m o t h e ra woman o f no o u t s t a n d i n g q u a l i t i e s , a p p a r e n t l y ,

b e y o n d some q u i c k n e s s o f w i t and h u m o u r . Forreasons w h i c h are n o t q u i t e c l e a r , h i s p a r e n t s

w ere never l e g a l l y m a r r i e d , a s i t u a t i o n w h i c h

was

t omean a

g r e a td e a l t o

t h e i rson. T r o u b l e

b e g a n b e f o r e h i s b i r t h even, a b o r t i o n b e i n gt w i c e a t t e m p t e d . A f t e r a t h r e e - d a y l a b o u r ,h o w e v e r , h e e v e n t u a l l y came i n t o t h e w o r l d , a n d

t h e n h i s t r o u b l e s c o n t i n u e d w i t h o u t much i n t e r -

m i s s i o n . I t r e q u i r e d a b a t h o f w i n e t o k e e p him

a l i v e f o r t h e f i r s t f e w h o u r s , a f t e r w h i c h h e was

p u t t o nurse w i t h a woman w h o w i t h i n t h e

month c o n t r a c t e d p l a g u e and d i e d . The c h i l d

was a l s o i n f e c t e d , a n d as h e d e s c r i b e d i t l a t e r

h i m s e l f , c o n t r a c t e d a d r o p s y and f l u x o f t h e

l i v e r , b u t was p r e s e r v e d w h e t h e r t h r o u g h t h e

w r a t h o r mercy o f Go d I know n o t .

N o t many men c n h a v e s u r v i v e d g r e a t e r

t r i b u l a t i o n s t h a n d i d t h e y o ung J e r o m e . Th e* Read a t t h e S e v e n t y - t h i r d Annual M e e t i n g o f t h e

Canadian Medical A s s o c i a t i o n , J a s p e r P a r k , A l b e r t a ,

J u n e , 1 9 4 2 .

p l a g u e was b a d e n o u g h , b u t , as an u n w a n t e dc h i l d , h i s p a r e n t s came a l m o s t as c l o s e t o c u t t i n g

s h o r t h i s l i f e as i t d i d . H i s m o t h e r a n d aunt

b e a t h i m c o n t i n u a l l y , so much s o t h a t o f h i sa u n t h e says I b e l i e v e s h e h e r s e l f must h a v e

b e e n w i t h o u t a s k i n . H i s f a t h e r h e l p e d i nt h e f l a g e l l a t i o n s . At t h e age o f 7 , h o w e v e r , t h e

b oy ' s p h y s i ca l c o n d i ti on b e c a m e s o w r e t c h e d

t h a t t h e b e a t i n g s were d i s c o n t i n u e d .

H i s f a t h e r t h e n put h i m t o w o r k c a r r y i n g h i sb a g o f papers t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s on h i s d a i l y

b u s i n e s s , a n d i t i s a q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h i s was

n o t a g r e a t e r s t r a i n on t h e b o y t h a n t h e b e a t-

i n g s . At any r a t e , a f t e r a year o f i t h e man-

a g e d t o d e v e l o p an a t t a c k o f d y s e n t e r y w h i c h

b r o u g h t h i m t o d e a t h ' s d o o r . B y t h i s t i m e , h o w -ever, h i s f a t h e r seems t o h a v e r e c o g n i z e d some-

t h i n g o f v a l u e i n h i m a n d n o t o n l y c a l l e d i n

t w o p h y s i c i a n s b u t a l s o i n t e r c e d e d w i t h a s a i n t

f o r h i m . T h i s was S t . J e r o m e , who a p p a r e n t l ywas r e c o m m e n d e d t o t h e o l d man b y one o f h i sf r i e n d s , much i n t h e same way t h a t one w o u l dr e c o m m e n d a g o o d d o c t o r . At a l l e v e n t s , t h e

b o y r e c o v e r e d a n d was t h e n g i v e n h i s name o fJ e r o m e . Up t o my e i g h t h y e a r , h e says l a t e r , I h a d o f t e n b e a t e n a t t h e g a t e s o f d e a t h , b u tt h o s e w i t h i n r e fu s ed t o open t o m e .

T h e s e p r o o f s o f p h y s i c a l t o u g h n e s s ( a n d h e

was t o g i v e many m o r e ) are n o t w h a t C a r d a ni s t o b e r e m e m b e r e d f o r . They d o serve, h o w -

ever, t o a c c e n t u a t e t he s u rv i va l o f h i s e x t r a o r d i -

nary m e n t a l po w er , a l t h o u g h t h e y may h a v e

c o n t r i b u t e d i n some d e g r e e t o h i s l a t e r eccen-

t r i c i t i e s .From t h e age o f e i g h t h e r e c e i v e d b e t t e r

t r e a t m e n t a t h o m e , a l t h o u g h h e never seems ,

t h e n o r l a t e r , t o h a v e h a d any l o n g p e r i o d o f

t r a n q u i l l i t y w h i c h h e c o u l d r e c a l l w i t h p l e a s u r e .He s t i l l c a r r i e d h i s f a t h e r ' s b a g t h r o u g h t h e

s t r e e t s , b u t h e was g i v e n some e l e m e n t a r y t e a c h -

i n g , w h i c h made up f o r much o f h i s w r e t c h e d -ness. I l i v e d t o m y s e l f , h e t e l l s us, a n d ,i n some h o p e o f f u t u r e t h i n g s , d e s p i s e d t h e

p r e s e n t . He h a d r e a c h e d t h e age o f 1 9 b e f o r e

h e was a l l o w e d t o s t u d y L a t i n , t h e o ne l a n g u a g eu s e d b y t h e e d u c a t e d o f t h a t t i m e .

Some years b e f o r e t h i s , h o w e v e r , h i s a s p i r a -t i o n s t o o k t h e f o r m o f w r i t i n g a s m a l l b o o k on

g e o m e t r y , i n w h i c h h i s f a t h e r . h i m s e l f a k e e n

m a t h e m a t i c i a n , h a d i n s t r u c t e d h i m , b u t t h e

b o o k i s l o s t t o us . H i s n e x t v e n t u r e i n t o l e t t e r swas a l i t t l e d i f f e r e n t . At t h e age o f 1 8 h e was

b e c o m i n g i n t o l e r a b l y r e s t l e s s . He was d e n i e d

e d u c a t i o n ; h i s b i r t h was c a s t up a g a i n s t him b yh i s c o m p a n i o n s ; h i s h e a l t h was b a d , and h i shome u n c o n g e n i a l . He t h e r e f o r e t u r n e d h i se n e r g i e s t o g a m b l i n g . What h e had l e a r n e d i n

m a t h e m a t i c s h e a p p l i e d t o c a l c u l a t i n g p r o b a b i l i -t i e s i n c a r d s and d i c e . H i s s e c o n d b o o k , n o t

f i n i s h e d u n t i l h e was 2 3 , was an e l a b o r a t e

t r e a t i s e on t h e s c i e n c e o f games o f c h a n c e . H em a k e s no a t t e m p t t o d e f e n d g a m b l i n g ; i n d e e d ,h e saw a n d p o i n t e d o u t i t s e v i l s . Th e b o o k i s

i n t e r e s t i n g as an a c c u r a t e p i c t u r e o f t h e games

3 2 7



MEN AND B O O K S : J E R O M E C A R D A N C a n . M. A . J.

[ O c t . 1 9 4 3 , v o l . 4 9

p l a y e d i n t h o s e d a y s . G a m b l i n g was a l m o s t u n i -v e r s a l t h e n , p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e t h e r e w as s u c hc o n s t a n t movement o f s o l d i e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h eC o n t i n e n t . O n e t r i c k h e d e s c r i b e s i s t h a t o fs o a p i n g t h e b a c k o f s o m e i m p o r t a n t c a r d , s o

t h a t t h e o t h e r s w o u l d s l i p f r o m i t when t h r o w nd o w n .H i s f a t h e r knew o f h i s s o n ' s g a m b l i n g . T h e r ei s n o t h i n g , h o w e v e r , t o show t h a t h e d i d a n y -t h i n g t o c o r r e c t t h e v i c e . I t w as a t l e a s t i r o n i -c a l t h a t h e s h o u l d r e f u s e f o r J e r o m e a l a r g el e g a c y l e f t t o t h e b o y b y a d i s t a n t r e l a t i v e ,b e c a u s e t h e w o u l d - b e b e n e f a c t o r h a d b e e n a t a x -g a t h e r e r . As a r e s u l t o f t h i s S p a r t a n , i f v i c a r i -o us d e n i a l , t h e money p a s s e d t o t h e man sb r o t h e r , a F r a n c i s c a n m o n k , w h o d e v o t e d i t t op i o u s u s e s .

H o w e v e r , C a r d a n s e n i o r r e a l i z e d a t l a s t t h a ts o m e t h i n g must b e d o n e f o r t h e b o v , and e v e n t u -

a l l y h e was s e n t t o t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P a v i a . Hewas now 1 9 , a s p a r e , s m a l l - f a c e d y o u t h , w i t hy e l l o w h a i r , s m a l l , i n t e n t e y e s , and a h a r s hv o i c e . He h a d a m o o d y i r a s c i b i l i t y , and a l t o -g e t h e r was p r o b a b l y n o t a very a t t r a c t i v eperson. At t h e u n i v e r s i t y h e b e g a n f o r t h ef i r s t t i m e t o know t h e h a p p i n e s s o f f u l l y e x -

e r c i s i n g . h i s i n t e l l e c t u a l powers. I n h i s s e c o n dyear h e was a c t u a l l y t e a c h i n g E u c l i d , and e v e ns u b s t i t u t e d f o r a s h o r t t i m e i n t e a c h i n g d i a -l e c t i c s a n d e l e m e n t a r y p h i l o s o p h y . He w o r k e dh a r d , a l t h o u g h h i s way o f l i v i n g was s t r i c t l y h i so w n. He would s t u d y a l l m o r n i n g , t h e n w a l ki n t h e s h a d e o f t h e c i t y w a l l s . Then h e

d i n e d ,a n d a f t e r t h a t gave u p h i s t i m e t o m u s i c . L a t e ri n t h e d a y h e w o u l d go f i s h i n g , and what p u r s u i tc o u l d h a v e g r e a t e r a t t r a c t i o n t o o ne o f a p h i l o -s o p h i c a l t u r n o f mind But h i s r e f e r e n c e s t ot h e c o o k i n g o f v a r i o u s k i n d s o f f i s h show t h a th i s i n t e r e s t i n t h e s p o r t was n o t a l l p h i l o s o p h i c a l .

I n t h e e v e n i n g h e w o u l d t a k e t o h i s g a m b l i n g ,b u t a t t h i s s t a g e i t was more o f a r e l a x a t i o n f o rh i m t h a n an u n c o n q u e r a b l e v i c e . S o m e t i m e s h ew o u l d s p e n d h i s t i m e w a n d e r i n g t h r o u g h t h etown a t n i g h t .

A p p a r e n t l y i t was h i s p h i l o s o p h i c b i a s w h i c hmade C a r d a n c h o o s e m e d i c i n e as a p r o f e s s i o n

r a t h e r t h a n l a w . L a w , h e s a i d , t r e a t e d o f l o c a lc u s t o m , m e d i c i n e , o f t r u t h common t o t h e w o r l da n d a l l a g e s . M e d i c i n e was c o n c e r n e d o n l y w i t hpure reason, w i t h t h e e t e r n a l l a w s o f n a t u r e , n o tt h e o p i n i o n o f men. T h i s c h o i c e d i d n o t m e e tw i t h h i s f a t h e r ' s a p p r o v a l a t f i r s t , b u t age a n df a i l i n g h e a l t h g r a d u a l l y s o f t e n e d t h e o l d m a n ' so p p o s i t i o n .

W h a t e v e r may b e s a i d a g a i n s t C a r d a n , andh e h a s h a d some h a r s h c r i t i c s , h i s c h a r i t a b l e n e s st o w a r d s h i s p a r e n t s s t a n d s o u t as a very p l e a s -i n g a s p e c t o f h i s n a t u r e . T h a t h e s h o u l d h a v eo v e r c o m e t h e i r d i s l i k e o f him was s o m e t h i n g ,b u t i t i s more n o t a b l e t h a t h e was never em-

b i t t e r e d a g a i n s t t h e m . He d o e s n o t s h o w t h el e a s t s i g n o f r e c r i m i n a t i o n i n a l l h i s many

r e f e r e n c e s t o h i s n a r e n t s , even when h e d e s c r i b e st h e i r i l l t r e a t m e n t o f h i m . O f h i s f a t h e r h e

s a y s : He was i n c o r r u p t i b l e a n d t r u l y h o l y ,a n d r e f e r s t o t h e p i t i l e s s l a b o u r f o r c e d o n h i mas a s m a l l b o y m e r e l y as s o m e t h i n g t h a t a tt h a t t i m e I t h o u g h t t o b e h a r d s e r v i t u d e . A l s o , My f a t h e r a p p e a r e d t o me i f s u c h a t h i n g

m ay b e s a i d ) b e t t e r a n d more l o v i n g t h a n m ym o t h e r . T h a t was t h e m o s t severe c r i t i c i s mo f h i s m o t h e r . A f t e r h i s f a t h e r ' s d e a t h h e

s p e a k s o f h e r i n c r e d i b l e s o l i c i t u d e i n s u p -p o r t i n g h i m a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P a d u a w h e n c eh e h a d g o n e f r o m P a v i a .

J e r o m e o b t a i n e d h i s d e g r e e a t t h e a g e o f 2 5( a f t e r b e i n g t w i c e r e f u s e d i t on a c c o u n t o f h i sb i r t h ) , a n d a t once b e g a n t o p r a c t i s e i n a s m a l ltown c a l l e d S a c c o . H e r e h e l i v e d f o r t h e n e x tf i v e a n d a h a l f y e a r s , a n d i n r e t r o s p e c t s p e a k so f t h a t p e r i o d o f h i s l i f e w i t h a c u r i o u s m i x t u r eo f f e e l i n g s . I n o ne p l a c e h e s a y s :

Whatw i t h c r u e l

v e x m a t i o n sa n d

s t r u g g l e s a n d caresw h i c h I saw i m p e n d i n g , a n d t r o u b l e s o m e c o u g h a n dp l e u r i s y a g g r a v a t e d b y c o p i o u s d i s c h a r g e o f h u m o u r ,I w as b r o u g h t i n t o a c o n d i t i o n s u c h as f e w men e x -

c h a n g e f o r a u g h t e l s e b u t a c o f f i n .

F u r t h e r o n , h o w e v e r , h e r e c a l l s t h e s e as p l e a s -a n t d a y s :

I g a m b l e d , I o c c u p i e d m y s e l f w i t h m u s i c , I w a l k e da b r o a d , I f e a s t e d , g i v i n g s c a n t a t t e n t i o n t o m y s t u d i e s .

I t i s c e r t a i n , h o w e v e r , t h a t h e e a r n e d veryl i t t l e m o n e y . He w r o t e c o p i o u s l y , a n d b r o u g h to u t a t r e a t i s e on t h e M e t h o d o f H e a l i n g , a n da n o t h e r o n T h e P l a g u e , w h i c h h e h a d a b u n d a n t

o p p o r t u n i t yt o

o b s e r v e . Tw o o t h e r m a n u s c r i p t s ,o ne on V e n e r e a l D i s e a s e a n d t h e o t h e r o n

S p i t t l e , were d e s t r o y e d b y t h e m i s d e e d s o f a c a tw h i c h was n o t h o u s e - b r o k e n . He seems t o h a v et a k e n t h i s t o h e a r t s o m e w h a t , as h e s p e a k s o fi t i n t w o p l a c e s . T h e c a t was p r o b a b l v o n l vo ne o f t h e many a n i m a l s i n h i s h o u s e ; i n o ne

p l a c e h e s a y s : I became t h e owner o f a l l s o r t so f l i t t l e a n i m a l s t h a t b e c a m e a t t a c h e d t o m e ,k i d s , l a m b s , h a r e s , r a b b i t s , s t o r k s , so t h a t t h e yp o l l u t e m e t h e w h o l e h o u s e .

D u r i n g t h i s i d l e p e r i o d he r e t u r n e d t o h i sg a m b l i n g . On o ne o c c a s i o n , h e was v i s i t i n gV e n i c e , a n d s p e i i t h i s t i m e d i c i n g i n t h e h o u s e

o f a V e n e t i a i n s e n a t o r . I n two s u c c e s s i v e d a y sl h e l o s t e v e r y t h i n g t o h i s h o s t , and a t l a s t , f i n d -i n g h e was b e i n g c h e a t e d , h e s l a s h e d t h e f a c eo f h i s . o p p o n e n t w i t h h i s p o n i a r d . He t h e n t o o kf r o m h i m a l l t h e money h e h a d l o s t and more,b u t , h e n a i v e l y r e m a r k s , f i n d i n g t h a t h i s d i s -h o n e s t h o s t was wounded ( ) , gave h i m b a c ksome o f t h e money a n d t h e n l e f t h u r r i e d l y .

T h a t was n o t a l l , h o w e v e r . A senator, even

i f d i s h o n e s t , was n o t t o b e wounded with i m -p u n i t y , a n d C a r d a n h a d t o h i d e from t h e a t -t e n t i o n s o f t h e p o l i c e . I n h i s wanderings a b o u tt h e c i t y i n t h e d a r k h e s l i p p e d and f e l l i n t o a

c a n a l , b u t was p u l l e d a b o a r d a passing g o n d o l a .

When h e t u r n e d t o t h a n k h i s h e l p e r , w h o s h o u l di t b e b u t t h e wounded s e n a t o r , w h o se f a c e bynow h a d been b a n d a g e d . Cheat he u n d o u b t e d l yw a s , b u i t t h e r e must have b e e n some element o f

3 2 8



C a n . M. A . J .O c t . 1 9 4 3 , v o l . 4 9 J

MEN AND B O O K S : J E R O M E C A R D A N

t h e s p o r t i n g s p i r i t a b o u t h i m , f o r h e n o t o n l y

r e s c u e d C a r d a n , b u t gave h i m d r y c l o t h e s .J e r o m e m a r r i e d a t t h e age o f 3 0 , b u t c e r -

t a i n l y n o t on t h e g r o u n d o f any i m p r o v e m e n t i nh i s f o r t u n e s . I f a n y t h i n g , h e was now i n g r e a t e r

p o v e r t y t h a n ever. P r a c t i c e b r o u g h t h i m i n

very l i t t l e money He w r o t e c o n t i n u o u s l y , b u t

o n l y as an o u t l e t f o r h i s m e n t a l energy. At h i sm o s t d e s t i t u t e s t a g e h e b e g a n h i s t r e a t i s e o n

F a t e , t h o u g h t h e r e was n o t h i n g t o encourage

h i m t o h o p e t h a t i t w o u l d ever r e a c h a p r i n t i n g

press. He opens i t w i t h an e x h o r t a t i o n t o A l l

t h o s e who h o p e t h a t b y w r i t i n g g l o r y may pos-

s i b l y f o l l o w t o t h e m s e l v e s .

T h e r e h a d t o b e an e n d t o t h i s , h o w e v e r , a n d

when h e h a d g a m b l e d away e v e r y t h i n g h e p o s -

s e s s e d , i n c l u d i n g h i s w i f e ' s j e w e l s , h e d e t e r -

m i n e d t o t a k e h i s f a m i l y b a c k w i t h him t o M i l a n ,

n o t , h e s a i d , t h at t h e r e was a n y t h i n g t o s e e k ,

b u t t h e r e was s o m e t h i n g f r o m w h i c h t o f l y . Hewas n o t p e r m i t t e d t o p r a c t i s e i n M i l a n , b u t a t

l e a s t t h e r e was a w o r k h o u s e t h e r e t o s h e l t e r h i sw i f e a n d c h i l d , a n d , as i n every l a r g e c i t y , t h e r e

was a l w a y s a c h a n c e o f s o m e t h i n g t u r n i n g up.

C a r d a n was n o t a man o f many f r i e n d s . Heh a d a s h a r p t o n g u e , h e was i n d e p e n d e n t , a n d h e

h a d t h e s c h o l a r ' s i n s t i n c t f o r w i t h d r a w a l f r o m

p e o p l e . H o w e v e r , h e h a d a t l e a s t o ne g o o d

f r i e n d i n M i l a n , F i l i p p o A r c h i n t o , w h o was

a c t i v e i n h i s b e h a l f . S o t h a t e v e n t u a l l y a s m a l l

l e c t u r e s h i p was f o u n d f o r h i m . I t gave h im

o n l y a p i t t a n c e , b u t i t p r e s e r v e d h i s i n d e p e n d -

e n c e , a n d , w h a t was much more i n h i s e s t i m a -

t i o n , i t gave him s o m e t h i n g d e f i n i t e on w h i c h t o

e x e r c i s e h i s i n t e l l e c t .

A l l t h i s t i m e h e h a d t o l i v e very s p a r e l y , b u t

h e a n d h i s f a m i l y m a n a g e d t o s u b s i s t o n an

e x t r e m e l y meagre d i e t . He w r i t e s e n t h u s i a s t i -

c a l l y on t h e r e s p e c t i v e m e r i t s o f n a s t u r t i u m

l e a v e s , rue, p a r s l e y , a n d o t h e r h e r b s , f o r m a k i n g

b r e a d a n d w a t e r a t t r a c t i v e . At a l l e v e n t s h e

h a d l i t t l e t o f e a r f r o m a v i t a m i n o s i s But when

t i m e s w e r e b e t t e r i n l a t e r years h e c o u l d b e

e q u a l l y e n t h u s i a s t i c over more s u b s t a n t i a l f a r e .He was i n no sense a g o u r m a n d , b u t h e w r i t e s

i n g r e a t d e t a i l o f w h a t h e l i k e d . He would

h a v e a l i g h t b r e a k f a s t o f b r e a d and w a t e r andr a i s i n s . T e a a n d c o f f e e , o f c o u r s e , h e knew

n o t h i n g o f . D i n n e r , t o o , was l i g h t , u s u a l l y t h e

y o l k o f an egg w i t h some b r e a d and p e r h a p s a

l i t t l e w i n e . S u p p e r was h i s l a r g e s t m e a l .

H i s c l o t h i n g gave him much l e s s care t h a n h i s

f o o d . Even when h e b e c a m e prosperous h e c a r e d

l i t t l e w h a t h e w ore. I n h i s o p i n i o n , f o u r g a r -

m e n t s w e r e e n o u g h f o r a man, o ne h e a v y and

o ne h e a v i e r , o ne l i g h t a n d o ne l i g h t e r . With

t h e s e , h e s a i d , h e c o u l d e v o l v e f o u r t e e n v a r i e t i e s

o f r e s p e c t a b l e a p p a r e l , w i t h o ne a d d i t i o n a l g a l ac o s t u m e when h e wore them a l l a t o n c e He

may n o t h a v e f o l l o w e d t h i s p l a n e n t i r e l y , b u t

a t any r a t e h e had no d e s i r e f o r new c l o t h e s ,a n d w o u l d go on w e a r i n g what h e h ad u n t i l

even h e n o t i c e d t h a t t h e y n e e d e d r e p l a c e m e n t .F a s h i o n o f co urse was n o t h i n g t o h i m . After

h i s j o u r n e y t o S c o t l a n d ( t o come l a t e r ) h e

c a u s e d some comment amongst h i s n e i g h b o u r s

b y c o n t i n u i n g t o wear i n M i l a n g a r m e n t s t h a t

h e h a d b o u g h t i n E d i n b u r g h l o n g m o n t h s b e f o r e .W h e t h e r i t was some e x t r a o r d i n a r y t a r t a n , o r

even k i l t s , we are n o t t o l d , b u t a t any r a t e t h e

E d i n b u r g h f a s h i o n was very d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t

o f M i l a n .T o r e t u r n t o h i s e a r l i e r d a y s ; a l l h i s w r i t i n g

a n d l e c t u r i n g a t t h i s t i m e h a d l i t t l e t o d o w i t h

m e d i c i n e , a n d , n a t u r a l as i t was i n t h o s e d a y st h a t a m e d i c a l man s h o u l d a l s o b e a m a t h e m a t i -

c i a n , i t was s t i l l e x p e c t e d t h a t h e s h o u l d s t i c kt o h i s p r o f e s s i o n i f h e w i s h e d t o g e t any prac -

t i c e . J e r o m e m a n a g e d t o g e t a f e w p a t i e n t s ,a n d even h a d n o t a b l e successes i n t r e a t m e n t , b u t

h e was n o t r e a l l y p o p u l a r , a n d h i s r i v a l s h a d

much t o c r i t i c i z e i n h i m ; h i s d i c i n g a n d h i sa b s o r p t i o n i n p h i l o s o p h y a n d m a t h e m a t i c s were

c o n t i n u a l l y e a s t up a g a i n s t h i m . He r e a l i z e dt h i s h i m s e l f a f t e r a t i m e , a n d s e t t o w o r k

t o d e f e n d h i m ' i s e l f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y b y w r i t i n g

a b o o k on t h e b a d p r a c t i c e o f p h y s i c i a n s

o f h i s d a y ( D e M a l o R e c e n t i o r u m M e d i c o r u mM e d e n d i U s u ) . T h e b o o k was n o t p u b l i s h e d

i m m e d i a t e l y , i n d e e d , none o f h i s a l r e a d y numer-

o u s w o r k s h a d b e e n p r i n t e d so f a r , b u t when

i t d i d appear l a t e r on as h i s f i r s t v e n t u r e i n t o

p r i n t i t r a i s e d s u c h a s t o r m o f p r o t e s t f r o m

t h e p r o f e s s i o n t h a t i t d i d h i m more harm t h a n

g o o d .

F o r h i s b o o k was c l e v e r , a n d d e n o u n c e d many

errors i n p r a c t i c e , 7 2 a l l t o l d . F o r e x a m p l e , h e

a t t a c k e d t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e r e c o u l d b e f o u n do ne mode o f c u r e f o r a l l d i s e a s e s ; a n d t h e d o c -t r i n e t h a t no p a t i e n t s h o u l d b e b l e d w h i l s t i na c u t e p a i n . He even t a u g h t t h a t t o d o n o t h i n g

w i t h p h y s i c was b e t t e r t h a n t o d o t o o m u c h .

S t i l l , a t t r a c t i v e as t h e b o o k w as, n o t t o m e n t i o n

i t s s o u n d n e s s i n many r e s p e c t s , t h e o n l y r e s u l tso f a r as J e r o m e was c o n c e r n e d was h a r d w o r d sa n d h o s t i l e l o o k s f r o m h i s c o n f r e r e s , w ho w a n t e dt o know how a g a m b l e r a n d a l e c t u r e r i n m a t h e -

m a t i c s c o u l d presume t o t e a c h men e n g a g e d i ns t e a d y p r a c t i c e . T h e r e was no money i n i te i t h e r , f o r w hi l s t t h e c o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e b o o k

was i t s b e s t a d v e r t i s e m e n t a n d l e d t o i t s b e i n gmuch s o u g h t a f t e r , t h e p ri n t e r a l o n e p r o f i t e d ,s i n c e h e h a d a s s u m e d t h e r i s k o f p r i n t i n g .

R e c o g n i t i o n was very s l o w . T h e M i l a n e s e C o l -l e g e o f P h y s i c i a n s e v e n t u a l l y a c c o r d e d h i m t h e i rp r i v i l e g e s , h o w e v e r a n d l i e was even a p p o i n t e d

t h e i r R e c t o r , b u t se e m s t o h a v e made no a t t e m p t

t o a c q u i r e a s o c i a l s t a n d i n g c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e

h o n o u r . A l l h i s t i m e a p p a r e n t l y was s p e n t on

g a m b l i n g a n d on l e a r n i n g G r e e k . F or over t w o

years h e s p e n t p r a c t i c a l l y every d a y d i c i n g w i t h

a w e a l t h y M i l a n e s e , who se e m s t o h a v e b e e n a

g o o d l o s e r , as C a r d a n a l w a y s came away w i t h

w i n n i n g s ; i n d e e d , h e c o u n t e d on them f o r h i s

l i v i n g .

T h e n h i s f r i e n d grew t i re d o f i t , gave up

g a m b l i n g , a n d i n d u c e d C a r d a n t o d o l i k e w i s e .

A n o t h e r e x t r e m e l v s t r a i t e n e d p e r i o d f o l l o w e d .

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MEN AND B O O K S : J E R O M E C A R D A N E C a n . M. A. J .

[ O c t X 1 9 4 3 , v o l . 4 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ot o.4

a n d e v e n t u a l l y h e w as o f f e r e d t h e c h a i r o fM e d i c i n e i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P a v i a , which h a db e e n c o m p e l l e d b y t h e n e v e r - e n d i n g wars o f t h ep e r i o d t o move t o A M i l a n . When t h e w ar f i n a l l yf l o w e d away f r o m t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d , t h e u n i -v e r s i t y w e n t b a c k t o P a v i a . Cardan had d e -c i d e d n o t t o go w i t h t h e m , b u t one n i g h t , s oh e t e l l s u s , w h i l s t h e a n d h i s f a m i l y w ere a s l e e p( t h e y were a l l i n t h e one b e d ) t h e w h o l e h o u s ef e l l t o p i e c e s a b o u t t h e m . F ew men w o u l d h a v et h o u g h t o f t h i s a s m o r e t h a n an a n n o y i n g m i s -h a p , f r o m w h i c h t h e y would h a v e b e e n g l a d t oescape u n h u r t , b u t t o him i t w as an o m e n , f o rh e was d e e p l y i m b u e d w i t h a sense o f t h e s u p e r -

n a t u r a l , a n d h e t h e r e f o r e w e n t b a c k w i t h t h eu n i v e r s i t y .

T h i s was t h e t u r n i n g p o i n t o f h i s l i f e . H i st e a c h i n g k e p t h i m s t e a d y , f o r h e c o u l d w o r kh a r d when h e w a n t e d t o , and h e had d e c i d e d t o

l i v e d o w n t h e n o t u n r e a s o n a b l e g e n e r a l b e l i e ft h a t h e k n e w n o t h i n g b u t m a t h e m a t i c s a n da s t r o l o g y . I n t h i s h e w s e n t i r e l y s u c c e s s f u l .T h e r e can b e no b e t t e r c o m m e n t a r y o n h i s i n -h e r e n t power s t h a n t h e r a p i d i t y w i t h w h i c h h i sf a m e now d e v e l o p e d . O n e a f t e r t h e o t h e r t h e r ecame t o h i m o f f e r s o f g r e a t f e e s and s a l a r i e s i fh e w o u l d a t t a c h h i m s e l f t o t h e c o u r t s o f t h eg r e a t . T h e K i n g o f D e n m a r k , f o r i n s t a n c e ,t e m p t e d h i m w i t h a s a l a r y o f more t h a n t w i c eh i s p r o f e s s i o n a l pay a t P a v i a t o g e t h e r w i t h f r e em a i n t e n a n c e f o r h i m s e l f a n d a h o u s e h o l d o f f i v e ,a n d h e w o u l d a l s o h a v e b e e n p e r m i t t e d t o t a k ef e e s f r o m t h e c o u r t i e r s a n d o t h e r s . T h i s o f f e r ,i n c i d e n t a l l y , h a d b e e n made f i r s t t o V e s a l i u s ,t h e a n a t o m i s t . H e , h o w e v e r , was prosperous,a n d h a d o t h e r p l a n s i n v i e w . He p a s s e d t h eo f f e r on t o C a r d a n , w i t h w h o m h e was f r i e n d l y( a l t h o u g h t h e y never a c t u a l l y m e t ) .

Money never r e a l l y t e m p t e d h i m . W h i l e h ewas po o r h e g a m b l e d , b u t h i s mind was never

w a r p e d b y t h e d e s i r e f o r g a i n . He t h e r e f o r er e f u s e d t h e s e o f f e r s a n d t u r n e d h i s a t t e n t i o n t oh i s t e a c h ing and t h e e d u c a t i o n o f h i s children,

who now were w i t h o u t a m o t h e r . He r e a l i z e dt h a t h i s c h i l d r e n were g r o w i n g up w i t h o u t any

proper t e a c h i n g o r d i s c i p l i n e , s i n c e h e was a b -

s o r b e d i n h i s w o r k . W o r s e t h a n t h a t , h i sf r i e n d s , o r a t any r a t e t h o s e w i t h w h o m h ea l l o w e d h i m s e l f r e l a x a t i o n w i t h d i c i n g a n d ' s i n g -i n g , were a b a d e l e m e n t i n t h e h o u s e . He knewt h i s a l l t o o w e l l , a n d h i s e f f o r t t o make a m e n d swas as p a t h e t i c as i t was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . Hew r o t e a l i t t l e B o o k o f P r e c e p t s , i n t o w h i c h h eput w h a t h e t o o k t o b e t h e e l e m e n t s o f w i s d o m ,a n d t h i s h e gave t o h i s c h i l d r e n . T h e b o o kc o m b i n e s p i e t y w i t h s h r e w d n e s s , a n d may s t i l lb e r e a d w i t h i n t e r e s t , i f n o t p r o f i t . ere are a

f e w e x t r a c t s :

I t i s t e m e r i t y t o b e g t h a t Go d w i l l d o f o r us whatwe c n d o f o r o u r s e l v e s .

Do n o t t a l k t o o t h e r p e o p l e o f y o u r s e l v e s , your

c h i l d r e n , o r y o ur w i f e .

D e e d s ar e m a s c u l i n e and words are f e m i n i n e . L e t t e r sar e o f t h e n e u t e r g e n d e r .

T h e m i s f o r t u n e s o f o t h e r s , i f t h e y d o n o t t e l l y o uo f t h e m , d o o t seem t o k n o w .

When t h e m i n d i s p e r t u r b e d , never d e l i b e r a t e .N e v e r a s s o c i a t e w i t h a s t r a n g e r o n t h e p u b l i c r o a d .

Many o f t h e p r e c e p t s ar e o b v i o u s l y d i r e c t e da g a i n s t C a r d a n ' s own f a u l t s . He c o n c l u d e s h i sb o o k r e g r e t f u l l y : I t i s h o w e v e r much e a s i e r t ok n o w t h e s e t h i n g s t h a n t o d o t h e m .

P r o b a b l y t h e m o s t o f t e n q u o t e d i n c i d e n t i nJ e r o m e s l i f e i s h i s f a m o u s j o u r n e y t o E d i n -b u r g h t o t r e a t J o h n H a m i l t o n , A r c h b i s h o p o fS t . A n d r e w s . I c a n n o t d e a l w i t h t h e e p i s o d e i nd e t a i l ( t h e l e t t e r r e q u e s t i n g h i s h e l p f r o m t h e

A r c h b i s h o p ' s p h y s i c i a n a l o n e i s 1 0 , 0 0 0 w o r d sl o n g ) b u t i t h a s a l w a y s s e e m e d t o me t o s h o wC a r d a n a t h i s b e s t i n e v e r y r e s p e c t . T h e r e w ass o u n d w i s d o m i n h i s m a n a g e m e n t o f w h a t w as ad i f f i c u l t case o f a s t h m a . I t w o u l d n o t b e n a t u r a li f s o meone n o w a d a y s d i d n o t se e i n h i m a

p i o n e e r o f a l l e r g y ,on

a c c o u n t o f h i s d i r e c t i o nt o t h e A r c h b i s h o p t o a v o i d s l e e p i n g o n f e a t h e r s ,a n d n o t t o e a t c e r t a i n f o o d s . B u t I d o u b t i fC a r d a n w o u l d h a v e a c c e p t e d t h a t i m p e a c h m e n t .He k n e w n o t h i n g a t a l l o f p r o t e i n s e n s i t i v i t y ,a n d was n o t even g u e s s i n g a t i t . B u t h i s g r a s po f t h e case as a w h o l e , h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e

p e r s o n a l i t y a n d h a b i t s o f h i s a u g u s t p a t i e n t ,h i s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e t i n i e s t d e t a i l s , w e r e a l lm a s t e r l y i n t h e h i g h e s t d e g r e e . S o f a r as t h ef e a t h e r s w e r e c o n c e r n e d , C a r d a n seems a l w a y st o h a v e d i s l i k e d t h e m . A m o n g s t t h e d i r e c t i o n si n h i s B o o k o f P r e c e p t s f o r h i s c h i l d r e n h e s a y s N e v e r s l e e p on f e a t h e r s .

We a l s o s e e h i m a t h i s b e s t as a c o n s u l t a n t ,n e i t h e r o b t r u d i n g h i s o p i n i o n no r c o n c e d i n g h i so w n v i e w s . I t was o ne o f h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t ob e e x t r e m e l y m o d e r a t e a n d f a i r i n h i s d e a l i n g sw i t h h i s e - o n f r e r e s , a l t h o u g h h e may h a v e b e e na l i t t l e c r u d e i n manner a t t i m e s . D e s c r i b i n ga p u b l i c d e b a t e o n c e , h e s a y s : I , s p i t t i n gv i g o r o u s l y as was my w o n t , m i l d l y m a i n t a i n e dmy g r o u n d .

On h i s t r a v e l s h e r e c e i v e d o n l y h o n o u r ,a n d h i s o p i n i o n was e a g e r l y s o u g h t . He h a sl e f t s o m e a c c o u n t o f h i s i m p r e s s i o n s o f t h ev a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s a n d p e o p l e h e saw, b u t neverseems t o h a v e b e e n

u n d u l y i m p r e s s e d . P a r i s h ef o u n d t o b e e x t r e m e l y d i r t y . He even s u g g e s t st h a t i t s a l t e r n a t i v e name o f L u t e t i a was f r o mt h e L a t i n w o r d f o r d i r t , l u t u m . B u t h e a d m i t st h a t t h e r e m i g h t b e o t h e r d e r i v a t i o n s . He l i k e dt h e E n g l i s h , t h o u g h i n s o m e w h a t g u a r d e d man-ner. H i s c h i e f d i s c o m f o r t i n E n g l a n d h e s a y s ,w s h i s i g n o r a n c e o f t h e l a n g u a g e : When t h e yo p e n e d t h e i r m o u t h s I c o u l d n o t u n d e r s t a n d somuch as a w o r d , . . f o r t h e y i n f l e c t t h et o n g u e upon t h e p a l a t e , t w i s t w o r d s i n t h em o u t h , a n d m a i n t a i n a s o r t o f g n a s h i n g w i t ht h e t e e t h .

T o t h i s , h o w e v e r , h e a d d e d :

I t i s w o r t h c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t t h e E n g l i s h carel i t t l e o r n o t a t a l l f o r d e a t h . With k i s s e s and s a l u t a t i o n sp a r e n t s a n d c h i l d r e n p a r t ; t h e d y i n g say t h a t t h e yd e p a r t i n t o i m m o r t a l l i f e , t h a t t h e y s h a l l t h e r e a w a i tt h o s e l e f t b e h i n d ; a n d e a c h e x h o r t s t h e o t h e r t o r e t a i n

3 3 0



C a n . M . A . J .O c t . 1 9 4 3 , v o l . 4 9 J

MEN AND B O O K S : J E R O M E C A R D A N

him i n h i s m e m o r y . C h e e r f u l l y , w i t h o u t b l e n c h i n g , w i t h -

o u t t o t t e r i n g , t h e y b e a r w i t h c o n s t a n c y t h e f i n a ld o o m .

T h e E n g l i s h are f a i t h f u l , l i b e r a l and a m b i t i o u s .B u t , as f o r f o r t i t u d e , t h e t h i n g s done by t h e H i g h l a n dS c o t s ar e t h e most w o n d e r f u l . T h e y , w h en t h e y are l e dt o e x e c u t i o n , t a k e p i p e r w i t h t h e m ; and h e , w h o i sh i m s e l f o f t e n o ne o f t h e c o n d e m n e d , p l a y s t hem upd a n c i n g t o t h e i r d e a t h .

He r e t u r n e d f r o m S c o t l a n d i n 1 5 5 3 , w i t h h i sr e p u t a t i o n a t i t s z e n i t h . H i s p r a c t i c e b e c a m e s o

e x t e n s i v e t h a t h e c o m p l a i n s o f i t s i n t e r f e r i n gw i t h h i s w r i t i n g , and h e was so prosperous t h a th e says h e was o v e r p a i d . H i s p r o s p e r i t y l a s t e d

u n t i l 1 5 5 7 , when t h e t r a g e d y w h i c h was t o em-

b i t t e r t h e r e s t o f h i s l i f e had i t s b e g i n n i n g i n

t h e m a r r i a g e o f h i s e l d e s t s o n t o a woman o f

e v i l c h a r a c t e r . The b o y had none o f h i s f a t h e r ' s

s t r e n g t h o f mind o r commonsense, and t h e o u t -

come o f t h e w r e t c h e d a l l i a n c e was t h a t h e

p o i s o n e d h i s w i f e , f o r w h i c h h e was t r i e d a n de x e c u t e d . C a r d a n never f u l l y r e c o v e r e d from

w h a t h e f e l t n o t o n l y as t h e d e e p e s t s o r r o w o fh i s l i f e , b u t as an i n t o l e r a b l e d e g r a d a t i o n , a n d ,a l t h o u g h i n t i m e h e w e n t b a c k t o t e a c h i n g andw r i t i n g a n d was never i n f i n a n c i a l w a n t , t h e

s p r i n g o f h i s b e i n g h a d b e e n b r o k e n . To ad dt o h i s woes, h e was i m p r i s o n e d f o r some t i m e ,p r o b a b l y f o r i m p i e t y i n h i s w r i t i n g s , b u t f i n a l l yw s r e l e a s e d and was p e n s i o n e d b y t h e P o p e .He o c c u p i e d h i m s e l f w i t h h i s w r i t i n g t i l l near

t h e e n d , a n d f i n a l l y d i e d a t t h e age o f 7 5 .S o m e t h i n g must b e s a i d a b o u t h i s w r i t i n g s ,

f o r i t i s b y t h e m t h a twe

know h i m . T h e y n o to n l y s h o w u s w h a t h e was l i k e b u t t h e y c o n t a i n

a p i c t u r e o f t h e l i f e o f t h e M i d d l e A g e s w h i c hi s u n s u r p a s s e d b y any w r i t e r o f h i s t i m e .

C a r d a n r e s t e d h i s f a m e o n f o u r b o o k s c h i e f l y ;h i s C o m m e n t a r i e s o n H i p p o c r a t e s ; h i s A r i t h -

m e t i c ; a b o o k on A s t r o l o g y ; and o ne o n M u s i c .

N o t o ne o f t h e s e i s r e a d now, no r i s l i k e l y ever

t o b e . M a t h e m a t i c i a n s w i l l r e s p e c t h im as a

p i o n e e r i n t h e i r d e p a r t m e n t , b u t o u r o n l y reason

f o r t u r n i n g b a c k t o h i s m e d i c a l work would b e

t o g e t an i d e a o f t h e t e a c h i n g o f m e d i c i n e i n t h e

m i d d l e o f t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y .

A l l t h e s e f o u r ar e c o m p l e t e l y s t e r i l e c o m -

p a r e d w i t h t h e c o l o u r and warmth o f h i s a u t o -

b i o g r a p h y , w r i t t e n i n h i s 7 5 t h y e a r , h i s De V i t a

P r o p r i a L i b e r . I t i s c l a s s e d a m o n g s t t h e g r e a ta u t o b i o g r a p h i e s , and f o r o u r purpose o f u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g h i s p e r s o n a l i t y l i t t l e more i s n e e d e d .

A g o o d t r a n s l a t i o n i s now a v a i l a b l e .

For a c o m p l e t e a c c o u n t o f h i m , h o w e v e r , we

must t u r n t o h i s l i f e b y H e n r y M o r l e y ( 1 8 5 4 ) .M o r l e y ' s i n d u s t r y h a s p r o v i d e d u s with a sur-

ve y o f Cardan s m u l t i t u d i n o u s w r i t i n g s b yw h i c h we can j u d g e o f h i s l i v e l i n e s s o f m i n d .

C a r d a n h ad t h e knack o f b e i n g as i n t e r e s t i n gt o h i s own g e n e r a t i o n as t o o u r s , a l t h o u g h o f

course ours i s t h e i n t e r e s t o f i n q u i s i t i v e r e t r o -s p e c t i o n . He w r i t e s about t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f

h o u s e h o l d s , d e s c r i b i n g s u c h d e t a i l s as t h e c a r r y -

ing o f f i r e from o ne room t o another b y t h e

s e r v a n t s ; t h e m a r k i n g o f household l i n e n w i t h

s e c r e t d e v i c e s t o p r e v e n t i t s t h e f t a t t h e

l a u n d r y ; t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s p e c i a l l o c k s t o

b e t r a y anyone o p e n i n g t h e m b y s t e a l t h , a l s o a

c o n t r i v a n c e f o r securing b e d r o o m d o o r s . Hes p e a k s o f t h e p r a c t i c e o f l o c k i n g p e o p l e i n t o

t h e i r h o u s e s a t n i g h t as b e i n g i n c o n v e n i e n t i fi n case o f i l l n e s s i t was necessary t o s e n d f o rh e l p . He d e s c r i b e s h i s h a b i t o f k e e p i n g a l lw r i t i n g s a d d r e s s e d t o h i m , even b e g g i n g l e t t e r s .He h a d f o u r c u p b o a r d s i n h i s s t u d y ; one f o rl i t e r a r y papers; one f o r b i l l s and money a f f a i r s ;o ne f o r t h e c o u r t e s i e s a n d c o m p l i m e n t s o f l i f e ;a n d o ne f o r w a s t e .

He b u r n e d much o f what h e wrote, and a

g r e a t d e a l a l s o was l o s t o t h e r w i s e , b u t h e h a sl e f t b e h i n d h i m more t h a n one hundred manu

s c r i p t s , o f w h i c h l e s s t h a n a quarter h a v e b e e np r i n t e d . A g r e a t e n q u i r e r f o r T r u t h S i r

T h o m a s B r o w n e says o f h i m , but t o o G r e e d ya R e c e i v e r o f i t . . He i s o f s i n g u l a r u se t oa p r u d e n t r e a d e r .

I t w o u l d b e f u t i l e i n a s k e t c h o f t h i s k i n d t o

a t t e m p t a f u l l e s t i m a t e o f C a r d a n ' s p e r s o n a l i t ya n d a c h i e v e m e n t s . He h a s b e e n r a t h e r h a r s h l y

d e a l t w i t h b y some e a r l i e r a u t h o r s , b u t so f a r

as I can f i n d o u t , l a t e r w r i t e r s h a v e b e e n more

generous i n t h e i r j u d g m e n t s . I f h i s a u t o b i o -

g r a p h y i s t h e p r o d u c t o f an i n s a n e mind, as

some h a v e t h o u g h t i t t o b e , one would c e r t a i n l y

e c h o K i n g G e o r g e t h e T h i r d ' s famous wish f o ra l i t t l e more s u c h i n s a n i t y . E c c e n t r i c i t y no

d o u b t h e s h o w e d i n f u l l measure, e s p e c i a l l y i n

h i s l a t e r years. He b e c a m e a f a m i l i a r s i g h t ont h e s t r e e t s o f R o m e , w a l k i n g w i t h an i r r e g u l a r

g a i t , q u e e r l y d r e s s e d , a n d t a l k i n g t o h i m s e l f .

Wh o o f us m i g h t n o t b e e x p e c t e d t o i n d u l g ei n s o m e s u c h o d d i t i e s i n h i s l a t e s e v e n t i e s , a f t e r

a l i f e o f s u c h s t r e s s as was l i v e d by Jerome

C a r d a n ' ?

He may h a v e h a d n o t h i n g t o t e a c h us i n

s c i e n c e , b u t w i t h a l l h i s f a u l t s h e had a r e s p e c t

f o r t r u t h , a d i s r e g a r d f o r g a i n , and a p a s s i o nf o r l e a r n i n g , w h i c h were a l t o g e t h e r a d m i r a b l e .Even t h e one i n c i d e n t i n h i s s c i e n t i f i c work i n

w h i c h h e s t a n d s c l e a r l y c o n d e m n e d f o r b r e a k i n gh i s w o r d ( h i s p i r a c y o f T a r t a g l i a ' s s o l u t i o n o f

c u b i c e q u a t i o n s ) n e e d s t o b e r e a d i n a l l i t sd e t a i l s b e f o r e t h e c o n d e m n a t i o n i s f i n a l . He h a da c a p a c i t y f o r m a k i n g e n e m i e s , a n d , u n d o u b t e d -l y , was n o t o f a p l e a s i n g p e r s o n a l i t y , b u t

M o r l e y p o i n t s o u t t h a t h i s w r i t i n g s a b o u t o t h e r s

are e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y f r e e f r o m rancour, a n d h enever l o s t a f r i e n d b y d i s l o y a l t y .

A c o m p l i c a t e d p e r s o n a l i t y h e no d o u b t was,

b u t i f h e i s t o b e j u d g e d w e. must t a k e i n t o ac-

c o u n t n o t o n l y h i s own c i r c u m s t a n c e s b u t t h e

c o n d i t i o n s a n d s t a n d a r d s o f l i f e i n t h e s i x t e e n t h

c e n t u r y . C a r d a n h i m s e l f p u t s them b e f o r e us

i n a l l t h e i r p o v e r t y and t e r r i b l e i n s e c u r i t y . I no ur own d a y we s h a l l d o w e l l i f we can e q u a lh i s po w ers o f d e t a c h m e n t and f a i t h f u l n e s s t oi n t e l l e c t u a l i d e a l s . From t h a t p o i n t o f v i e wa l o n e C a r d a n i s no u n w o r t h y o b j e c t o f s t u d y .

3 3 1



3 3 2 C O R R E S P O N D E N C E [ C a n . M . A . J .- [ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ O c t9 4 3 , v o l . 4 9

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 . T h e S t o r y o f My Own L i f e (De Vita Propria L i b e r ) .Jerome C a r d a n , t r a n s l a t e d by Jean S t o n e r , J . M.Dent S o n s , L o n d o n , 1 9 3 1 .

2 . MORLEY, H.: Jerome C a r d a n , L o n d o n , 1 8 5 4 .3 . BURR, A . R . : Th e A u t o b i o g r a p h y , P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1 9 0 9 .4 . WATERS, W. G . : Jerome C a r d a n , a B i o g r a p h i c a l S t u d y ,

London, 1 8 9 8 .5 . BURR, C . W.: Jerome Cardan as Seen by an A l i e n i s t ,

U n i v e r s i t y o f Pennsylvania L e c t u r e s , 1 9 1 7 , 4 : 2 5 5 .6 . CUNHA, F . : Hieronymus C a r d a n u s , Am . J . S u r g . ,

1 9 3 5 , 3 0 : 1 9 1 .7 . DANA, C . L . : Ana. Med. H i s t . , 1 9 2 1 , 4 5 : 2 9 7 .8 . AUDEN, J . G . A . : J . M e n t . S t . , 1 9 2 9 7 5 : 2 2 0 .9 . CUMSTON, W. G . : J e r o n m e C a r d a n , B os t. M. & S u r g . J . ,

1 9 0 2 , 4 6 : 7 7 .1 0 . BROWNE, S I R T . : Pseudodoxia E p i d e m i c a , B o o k i , p . 1 3 .

CATECHISM I N MEDICAL HISTORY

B y H e b e r C . J a m i e s o n , M . B . , F . R . C . P . ( C )

Edmonton

Q U E S T I O N S

1 . C h a r m s a n d a m u l e t s w e r e u s e d t o c u r ed i s -e a s e b y t h e A n g l o - S a x o n s . Ho w d i d t h e y

d i f f e r ?2 . What c o n v e n i e n c e f o r f r a c t u r e p a t i e n t s i n

h o s p i t a l , i n v e n t e d b y Guy d e C h a u l i a c , i ss t i l l i n u s e ?3 . I s a b e l l a o f C a s t i l e a s s i s t e d C o l u m b u s i n h i s

e f f o r t s t o f i n d a s h o r t s e a c o u r s e t o I n d i a .What d i d s h e d o f o r M i l i t a r y M e d i c i n e ?

4 . When w e r e E n g l i s h d o c t o r s f i r s t o r g a n i z e df o r w a r s e r v i c e ?

5 . Wh o s u g g e s t e d a m o t t o f o r t h e h e a r t a n dw h a t w a s i t ?

ANSWERS

1 . ( 1 ) Charm ( F r . c h a r m e , a s o n g ) . T h e u s u a lc h a r m s w e r e s a c r e d w o r d s o r c e r e m o n i e su s e d i n t h e g a t h e r i n g o f h e r b s . T h e y w e r eo r i g i n a l l y h e a t h e n b u t l a t e r C h r i s t i a n . F o ri n s t a n c e : I f t h e worm o r t h e b l e e d i n g f i g( h e m o r r h o i d ) t u r n d o w n w a r d s , d e l v e r o u n da p l a n t o f c e l a n d i n e r o o t a n d t a k e i t w i t h t h yt w o h a n d s t u r n e d u p w a r d s , a n d s i n g o v e r i tn i n e P a t e r N o s t e r s , a n d a t t h e n i n t h , a t D e l i v e r u s f r o m e v i l , s n a p i t u p , a n d t a k ef r o m t h a t p l a n t a n d f r o m o t h e r s t h a t mayb e t h e r e a l i t t l e c u p f u l ( o f j u i c e ) a n d l e t t h eman d r i n k i t ; a n d l e t o n e r u b h i m a t a warm

f i r e ; i t w i l l s o o n b e w e l l w i t h h i m .( 2 ) A m u l e t s w e r e p a r t s o f a n i m a l s o r p l a n t s ,p r e c i o u s s t o n e s , a n d g e m s e n g r a v e d w i t hm y s t i c a l d e v i c e s .

2 . T h e r o p e o r c h a i n h a n g i n g o v e r t h e b e d b yw h i c h t h e p a t i e n t c a n r a i s e o r t u r n h i m s e l f .Guy d e C h a u l i a c ( 1 2 9 8 - 1 3 6 8 ) a l s o i n t r o d u c e dw h i t e o f e g g t o s t i f f e n b a n d a g e s . T h i s p r e -c e d e d p l a s t e r o f P a r i s .

3 . A b o u t 1 4 7 0 ( ? ) s h e o r d e r e d t h e p r o v i s i o n o fs i x l a r g e t e n t s w i t h f u r n i t u r e , p h y s i c i a n s ,s u r g e o n s , o r d e r l i e s a n d m e d i c i n e s f o r t h ew o u n d e d , a n d a l s o f o r t h o s e w i t h d i s e a s e . A tt h e s i e g e o f G r a n a d a s h e p r o v i d e d f o u r h u n -

d r e d c o v e r e d w a g o n s c a l l e d a m b u l a n c i a s t or e m o v e t h e w o u n d e d f r o m t h e f i e l d . Addedt o t h i s s h e o r g a n i z e d a g r o u p o f s k i l l e d n u r s e st o a t t e n d t h e p a t i e n t s .

4 . I n 1 4 1 5 , H e n r y V s i g n e d a n a g r e e m e n t w i t hN i c o l a s C o l n e t , h i s p h y s i c i a n , a n d T h o m a sM 1 o r s t e a d , h i s s u r g e o n , t o c a r e f o r h i s armyi n t h e e x p e d i t i o n o f A g i n c o u r t . T h e s e t w oe n g a g e d a l i e u t e n a n t a n d i m p r e s s e d t w e l v es u r g e o n s

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d a ya n d t h e i r s h a r e o f t h e p l u n d e r . T h e y f o r m e dt h e G u i l d o f M i l i t a r y S u r g e o n s a n d i t i sr e c o r d e d t h a t a r e v i s i o n o f t h e i r r u l e s t o o kp l a c e i n 1 4 3 5 .

5 . B o w d i t c h ( 1 8 7 1 ) a n d K r o n e c k e r a f t e r e x p e r i -m e n t d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e h e a r t w h e n s t i m u l a t e d

c o n t r a c t e d t o t h e f u l l e s t e x t e n t o r n o t a t a l l .T h e y s u g g e s t e d t h e m o t t o a l l o r n o n e .

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A n n a p o l i s V a l l e yT h e A n n a p o l i s V a l l e y M e d i c a l S o c i e t y , b r a n c h

o f t h e N o v a S c o t i a D i v i s i o n o f t h e C a n a d i a nM e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , h e l d i t s 3 6 t h a n n u a l m e e t -

i n g a t t h e N o v a S c o t i a S a n a t o r i u m , K e n t v i l l e .A s c i e n t i f i c p r o g r a m w a s p r e s e n t e d b y D r . A .F . M i l l e r , D r . J . E . H i l t z a n d D r . V . D .S c h a f f n e r , o f K e n t v i l l e , a n d D r . H . B . A t l e ea n d D r . K . A . M a c K e n z i e , o f H a l i f a x .

O f f i c e r s w e r e e l e c t e d f o r t h e c o m i n g y e a r :P r e s i d e n t - D r . A . F . . M i l l e r , K e n t v i l l e ; V i c e -p r e s i d e n t s - D r . 0 . B . K e d d y , W i n d s o r , D r . H .A . F o l e y , C a n n i n g , D r . C . F . M e s s e n g e r , M i d -

d l e t o n , D r . J . R . M e C l e a v e , D i g b y ; S e c r e t a r y -t r e a s u r e r - D r . R . A . M o r e a s h , B e r w i c k ; R e p r e -s e n t a t i v e s t o t h e M e d i c a l S o c i e t y o f Nova S c o t i a-Dr. M . R . E l l i o t , W o l f v i l l e , D r . H . E . K e l l e y ,M I i d d l e t o n .

Camp S u s s e x M e d i c a l S o c i e t yT h e A u g u s t m e e t i n g o f t h e Camp S u s s e x

M e d i c a l S o c i e t y w a s a d d r e s s e d b y M a j o r J . K .P o y n t z o n T h e p h y s i c a l b a c k g r o u n d o f x - r a y s .S e v e r a l c i v i l i a n m e m b e r s o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n i nNew B r u n s w i c k a c c e p t e d t h e i n v i t a t i o n f r o mt h i s m i l i t a r y m e d i c a l s o c i e t y t o j o i n w i t h t h e m

i n t h e i r m e e t i n g .

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T o t h e E d i t o r :

I n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e p r o p o s e d c o m p u l s o r yN a t i o n a l H e a l t h I n s u r a n c e A c t , t h e u n d e r s i g n e df e e l s t h a t i t w o u l d b e f a r - s e e i n g a s w e l l a s j u s ta n d p r o p e r f o r t h e m e d i c a l p r o f e s s i o n t o b ew i l l i n g t o h a v e t h e i r r e g u l a r s c i e n c e s s u c h a so s t e o p a t h y a n d c h i r o p r a c t i c i n c l u d e d w i t h i n t h e

s c o p e o f t h e A c t . A f t e r a l l , t h e a r t o f h e a l i n gi s t o o b r o a d f o r a n y o n e b r a n c h o r s c i e n c e t op o s s e s s t h e w h o l e t r u t h a n d a l l t h e i m p l e m e n t sf o r t h e r e l i e f a n d c u r e o f t h e human b o d y .

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