Riolan, John

, son of the preceding, was born at Paris in the year 1577. While his father afforded every encouragement to his rising talents, his mind was naturally directed to the study of medicine, in which his progress was uncommonly rapid. He took his degree in 160-1, and a very few years after acquired great reputation as an author. In 1613, he was appointed royal professor of anatomy and botany by Louis XIII.; and in this latter capacity he petitioned the king for the establishment of a botanic garden in the university of Paris. He subsequently held the appointment of physician to queen Mary de Medicis, and accompanied that princess in her travels; he arrived at Cologne after her death, in July 1642, and returned to Paris, where he resumed his profession. After having twice undergone the operation of lithotomy, he lived to the age of eighty years, and died at Paris February 19, 1657.

Riolan, although one of the most expert and learned anatomists of his time, was hindered in his progress as a discoverer, by tiis extreme devotion to the ancients; and yet was arrogant in his claims to originality, and by his | pertinacity, and contempt of others, he raised himself many opponents and enemies. He published several new observations, however, respecting many parts of anatomical science, especially the structure of the colon, the biliary ducts, the uterus and vagina, the tongue, os hyoides, &c. but he did not illustrate them by engravings, as it was a maxim with him, that no representations could supersede the study of nature. His principal works, which were by no means confined to anatomy, are noticed in the following list. 1. “Brevis excursus in Battologiam Quercetani, quo Alchemias principia funditus diruuntur, et Artis veritas demonstratur,” Par. 1604. 2. “Comparatio veteris Medictate cum nova, Hippocraticae in Hermetica, Dogrnaticae cum Spargyrica,1605. 3. “Disputatio de Monstro Lutetiae 1605 nato.” 4. “Incursionum Quercetani depulsio,” id. 5. “Censura demonstrations Harveti pro veritate Alchymiae,1606. 6. “Scholu Anatomica novis et raris observationibus illustrata. Adjuncta est accurata fcetus humani historia,1607; enlarged by the author with the title of “Anatome corporis humani,1610. 7. “In Librum Cl. Galeni de Ossibus, ad Tyrones explanationes apologeticae pro Galeno, adversus novitios et novatores Anatomicos,” 1G13. 8. “Gigantomachie,1613, written in refutation of Habicot’s account of the discovery of the bones of the giant Teutobochus. Riolan published two other tracts, or more, upon this controversy, which ended with the appearance of his, 9. “Gigantologie; discours sur la grandeur des Grants, &c.” in 1618. 10. “Osteologia ex veterum et recentiorum praeceptis descripta,1614. 11. “Discours sur les Hermaphrodits, ou il est demontre*, centre l‘opinion commune, qu’il n’y a point de vrais Hermaphrodits,1614. 12. “Anatomica, seu Anthropographia,1618. 13. “Enchiridium anatomicum et pathologicum,” 164S, and many times reprinted; the best edition is of Paris, 1658. 14. “Opuscula anatomica nova,” Lond. 1649, containing remarks on the anatomical works of the most celebrated physicians, and an attack upon Harvey, and his doctrine of the circulation,’ of which Riolan was a great antagonist. 15. “Curieuses Recherches sur les e*coles de Medecine de Paris et de Montpelier,1651. He also published three different works, entitled “Opuscula anatomica,” in 1650, and the three following years, opposing the doctrines of Bartholine and Pecquet, respecting the absorbents and lacteals, and Harvey’s on the | circulation; and two more on the same subjects, with the titles of “Responsio prima, et altera,1652 and 1655. 1

1

Eloy, —Dict. Hist. de Medicine.—Rees’s Cyclopædia. Biog. Brit. See Index.