Bergen, Charles Augustus De

, a German anatomist and botanist, was born August 11, 1704, at Francfort on the Oder. His father, John George Bergen, was professor of anatomy and botany in that university. After his early studies, his father gave him some instructions in the principles of medicine, and then sent him to Leyden, where he studied under Boerhaave and Albinus. He also | went to Paris for farther improvement in anatomy. The reputation of Saltzman and Nicolai next induced him to pass some time at Strasburgh, and after visiting other celebrated universities in Germany, he returned to Francfort, and took his doctor’s degree in 1731. The following year he was appointed professor-extraordinary, and, in 1738, succeeded, on the death of his father, to the chair of anatomy and botany. In 1744 he became professor of therapeutics and pathology, in room of Goelicke, which he retained with high credit until his death, October 7, 1760, on which occasion his life, in the form of an eloge, was published in the Leipsic Medical Commentaries, vol. IX.

Bergen is the author of a great many works on botany, and various branches of natural history. In 1742 he published a dissertation to prove the superiority of the system of Linnæus to that of Tournefort, but afterwards he changed his opinion, and his “Francfort Flora,” published in 1750, is arranged on the Tournefortian system, although with improvements. This Flora was originally only a new edition of the “Vade Mecum” of Johrenius, one of his predecessors in the botanical chair, but unquestionably his additions were then new and important. He also proposed a new classification of shells, published observations on the anatomy of frogs, and several dissertations or memoirs on various plants and animals. His academical dissertations on anatomy were published by Haller, who particularly praises those on the intercostal nerve and on the cellular membrane. His works not included in that collection are, 1. “Icon nova ventriculorum cerebri,” Francfort, 1734. 2. “Programma de pia matre,” Nuremberg, 1736, 4to. 3. “Programma de nervis quibusdam cranii ad novem paria hactenus non relatis,” Francfort, 1738. 4. “Methodus cranii ossa dissuendi, et machinse hunc in finem constructs, delineatio,” 1741, 4to. 5. “Pentas obervationum anatomico-physiologicarum,” 1743, 4to. 6. “Elementa physiologias,” Geneva, 1749, 8vo, after the manner of Boerhaave’s Institutes. 7. “Anatomes experimentalis, pars prima et s’ecunda,” Francfort, 1755, 17.58, 8vo. 8. Several dissertations and theses, in the medical journals. 9. “Programma,” already mentioned, on the comparative merits of the Linnsean and Tournefortian systems, Francfort, 1742, 4to Leipsic, 1742, 4to. 10. “Dissertatio de Aloide,” Francfort, 1753, 4to, with a supplement in the Nova Act. Acad. Nat. Curiosor. vol. II. 11. “Catalogus | stirpium quas hortus academiie Viadrinae (Francfort) cotnplectitur,” 1744, 8vo. 12. “Flora Francofurtanaj” ibid. 1750, 8vo. 13. “Classes conchy liorum,” Nuremberg, 1760, 4to. Adanson consecrated a genus to the memory of Bergen under the name of Bergena, but it was not adopted by Linnæus. ¹