A Subtle and Mysterious Machine: The Medical World of Walter Charleton (1619-1707)Springer Science & Business Media, 2006 M01 20 - 300 pages Walter Charleton is an intriguing character—he flits through the diaries of Pepys and Evelyn, the correspondence of Margaret Cavendish, and his texts appear in the libraries of better-known contemporaries. We catch sight of him 1 conversing with Pepys about teeth, arguing with Inigo Jones about the origin of 2 Stonehenge, being lampooned in contemporary satire, stealing from the Royal Society, and embarrassing himself in anatomical procedures. While extremely active in a broad range of Royal Society investigations, his main discovery there seems to have been that tadpoles turned into frogs. As a practising physician of limited means, Walter Charleton was reliant for his living upon patrons and his medical practice—in addition he had the m- fortune to live in an era of dramatic political change, and consequently of unpredictable fortune. His achievements were known on the Continent. Despite his embarrassments in Royal Society anatomical investigation he was offered the prestigious chair of anatomy at the University of Padua. He turned down this extraordinary opportunity, only to die destitute in his native country a couple of decades later. The lugubrious doctor is without doubt an enigma. Charleton’s Anglicanism and staunch Royalism were unwavering throughout his career. The latter caused difficulties for him when he attempted to gain membership of the College of Physicians during the interregnum. His religious views were a source of concern when he was offered the position at Padua. |
Contents
Physick and Natural Philosophy | 32 |
Charletons Identity as a Physician | 52 |
Natural History 1659 in the Context of English Physiology | 81 |
Charletons Identity in the Royal Society College | 109 |
Conclusions | 216 |
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A Subtle and Mysterious Machine: The Medical World of Walter Charleton (1619 ... Emily Booth No preview available - 2010 |
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activities analogy ancient Animal Oeconomy animal spirits argued argument audience authority blood body Borelli Boyle brain Brown cause chapter Charleton presented Charleton’s lectures chyle claims classical College of Physicians College’s contemporary context Deliramenta demonstration depicted Descartes discourse discussion dissection divine doctrine eclectic eclecticism emphasis empirical English Enquiries Ephesian Matron Epicurus epistemology examined experimental experiments explanation faculties fermentation fibres Francis Glisson Frank Galenic George Ent Glisson Harvey Harvey’s heart Helmont Henry Herringman historians hypothesis identity illustrate important innovation invoked knowledge Latin learned London Margaret Cavendish mechanical mechanical philosophy mechanist Medicine method motu muscles Natural History natural philosophers Nayler nerves observations Oeconomia Animalis Oldenburg Oxford Physiologists physical physician physiology practice professional publication published reason reference rejected role Royal Society scientific revolution Scorbuto seems self-construction self-presentation seventeenth century Shapin soul specific status suggests Ternary textual theory Thomas Willis Three Anatomic Lectures tion traditional understanding University virtuoso Walter Charleton writings