Steven Blankaart

Steven Blankaart (24 October 1650, Middelburg – 23 February 1704, Amsterdam) was a Dutch physician, iatrochemist, and entomologist, who worked on the same field as Jan Swammerdam.[1] Blankaart proved the existence of a capillary system, as had been suggested by Leonardo da Vinci, by spouting up blood vessels, though he failed to realize the true significance of his findings. He is known for his development of injection techniques for this study and for writing the first Dutch book on child medicine.[2] Blankaart translated works of John Mayow.

Life

He was the son of Nicolaas Blankaart, a professor in Greek and History in Steinfurt (1645–1650) and Middelburg (1650–1666), who moved to Heerenveen to become the physician of Countess Albertine Agnes of Nassau; he was appointed in Franeker in 1669.[3] His son started as an apprentice of an apothecary.[4] In 1674 he moved to Amsterdam after becoming a doctor of Philosophy and Medicine at the University of Franeker.

Blankaart followed the principles established by René Descartes and was one of the first physicians to be a scientist or empiricist. In order to disprove the theory that insects originated spontaneously from filth and to demonstrate that they developed from eggs, Blankaart repeated the experiments carried out by Francesco Redi. Blankaart used oil made from turpentine to save the insects from mites, and mentioned it in his book Schou-burg from 1688.

Blankaart corresponded with the mystical writer Antoinette Bourignon.[5][6] He argued in one letter that an earthly paradise would be created if there were a prohibition of alcohol. He collaborated with Maria Sibylla Merian on the publication of her work.

In 1682, he had married Isabella de Carpentier, the daughter of a referent from Amersfoort, and in 1683, they had one child. At that time he lived on Warmoesstraat. Blankaart was one of the first to do research on children's education and incontinence. Blankaart was a follower of Franciscus Sylvius, who recommended copious quantities of tea and coffee.[7][8] and worked on syphilis.[9] Blankaart was living in the Leidsestraat when he died; he was buried in the Westerkerk.

Some works

References

  1. ^ David M. Damkaer (2002). The Copepodologist's Cabinet: A Biographical and Bibliographical History. American Philosophical Society. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-87169-240-5.
  2. ^ van Tellingen C (April 2009). "From the seat of heat and intelligence to regular heart activity as automatic movement: progress in cardiology up to 1900 from a Dutch perspective". Neth Heart J. 17 (4): 130–5. doi:10.1007/bf03086234. PMC 2669241. PMID 19421357.
  3. ^ P.C. Molhuysen and P.J. Blok, Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek. Deel 4. Dbnl.org. Retrieved on 15 June 2012.
  4. ^ G.A. Lindeboom, Geschiedenis van de medische wetenschap in Nederland. Dbnl.org. Retrieved on 15 June 2012.
  5. ^ Eric Jorink, Het 'Boeck der Natuere'. (2006) p. 186. DBNL. Retrieved on 15 June 2012.
  6. ^ Wiep Van Bunge (2003). The Early Enlightenment in the Dutch Republic, 1650–1750: Selected Papers of a Conference, Held at the Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel 22–23 March 2001. BRILL. p. 104. ISBN 978-90-04-13587-1.
  7. ^ Bennett Alan Weinberg; Bonnie K. Bealer (2001). The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug. Routledge. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-415-92723-9.
  8. ^ Roy Porter; Mikuláš Teich (1997). Drugs and Narcotics in History. Cambridge University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-521-58597-2.
  9. ^ Ulf Lagerkvist (2005). The Enigma of Ferment: From the Philosopher's Stone to the First Biochemical Nobel Prize. World Scientific. p. 41. ISBN 978-981-256-421-4.
  10. ^ Roy Porter; Mikuláš Teich (1992). The Scientific Revolution in National Context. Cambridge University Press. pp. 139ff. ISBN 978-0-521-39699-8.
  11. ^ Blancard, Stephan. Akupunktur und Moxa Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in German). Vialibri.net. Retrieved on 2012-06-15.

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