BOERHAAVE, HERMANN (1668 '1738). A Dutch physician. He was born at Voor bout, near Leyden. In 1652 he went to Leyden to become a clergyman, and studied Greek, Lat in, Hebrew, Chaldee. ecclesiastical and secu lar history, and mathematics. In 1659 he was made doctor of philosophy, and in 1690 began the study of medicine. Though mainly self-edu cated in medicine—as in chemistry and botany— he gained his doctor's degree at lIarderwyek, 1693, and returned to Leyden, where, in 1701, he was appointed lecturer on the theory of medi cine. In his inaugural lecture he recommended to the students the ancient method of Hippocrates in medicine; but in 1703 his views had become greatly enlarged, and he elaborated various mechanical and chemical hypotheses to explain the diseases of the body, especially in the ease of the fluids. In 1709 he was elected professor of medicine and botany in the place of llotton. About this time lie published the two works on which his great fame chiefly rests: Institutiones Medico- in Usus .-1111111lt Excrcitationis Domesti cos (170S), and Aphorismi do rognoseendis et Curandis Morbis, in Usum Doctrina. Mcdicce (1709), both of which went through editions, and were translated into various Euro pean languages, and also into Arabic. In the first work—a model of comprehensive and methodical learning—he gives a complete outline of his system, including a history of the art of medicine. an account of the preliminary knowl
edge necessary to a physician, and a description of the parts and functions of the body, the signs of health and disease, etc.: in the second, he gives a classification of diseases, with their causes, modes of treatment, etc. Boerhaave also rendered important services to botany. Of his best lectures are those delivered on his resigna tion of the office of rector of the university, De Comparando rerto in Physicis (Lewd., 1714),and De Vonore Medici, Scrvitute (173(3). To com bine practice with theory, he caused a hospital to be opened, where he gave clinical instruction to his pupils. Though so industrious in his own profession, he undertook, in 1718, after Lemort's death, the professorship of chemistry. and pub lished in 1724 his Elcmcnta Chemim, a work which did much to render this science clear and intelligible, and one that will always occupy a high place in the history of chemistry. his fame had meanwhile rapidly increased. Patients from all parts of Europe came to consult him. Peter the Great of Russia visited him: and it is even said that a Chinese mandarin sent him a letter, addressed `Boerhaave, celebrated physician. Eu rope.' Consult: Burton. Account of the Life and Writings of Boerhaave (London, 1743) ; Johnson, Life of Boerhaave (London, 1834).