Albinus, Bernard Siegfried

, son of the preceding, and one of the most celebrated anatomists of modern times, was born at Francfort in 1697. He received his first instructions from his father, and from the celebrated professors at Leyden, Rau, Bidloo, and Boerhaave; and in 1713 visited France, where he formed an acquaintance with Winslow and Senac, and afterwards corresponded with them on, his favourite science, anatomy. But he had scarce spent a year there when he was invited by the curators of the university of Leyden, to be lecturer in anatomy and surgery, | in place of Rau. With this request, so flattering to a young man, he resolved to comply, although contrary to his then views and inclination, and on his arrival was created doctor in medicine without any examination. Soon after, upon the death of his father, he was appointed to succeed him as professor of anatomy, and on his admission, Nov. 9, 1721, he read a paper, “De vera via ad fabricae humani corporis cognitionem ducente,” which was heard with universal approbation.

In 1725, his first publication appeared under the modest title of “Index supellectilis anatomies Ravianae,” Leyden, 4to, in which he pays a handsome tribute to the memory of his learned master and predecessor, Rau, whose labours only he pretends to give in this work, although it contains many observations the result of his own experience. In 1726 he published a history of the bones, “De Ossibus corporis humani,” Leyden, 8vo; but this he reprinted in, 1762, in a more complete edition, and with plates of great beauty and accuracy. In 1734 appeared his “Historia musculorum hominis,” ibid. 4to, the plates of which were prepared with uncommon care, as he employed his artists to multiply copies until they had attained a close resemblance to the muscle in all its connexions and insertions. Haller, whose testimony will not be suspected after the many angry disputes between him and Albinus, pronounces it the best executed work in anatomy; if it has any fault, it is that all the muscles are drawn upon the same scale, which creates some confusion in estimating the proportions of the smaller ones. He afterwards published treatises on the vascular system of the intestines, on the bones of the foetus, seven plates of the natural position of the foetus in the womb, 4 vols. 4to of “Annotationes Academicae,” all illustrated with plates of great beauty. While thus labouring on original works, he became not less distinguished as an editor, and published very correct editions of the works of Harvey, the anatomy of Vesalius, and Fabricius of Aquapendente, and lastly, the fine anatomical plates of Eustachius. This very eminent anatomist died Sept, 9, 1770, at Leyden, where he had filled the professor’s chair nearly fifty years.

His brother, Christian Bernard, was professor of anatomy at Utrecht, and died there in 1752. He published, 1. “Specimen anatomicum exhibens novam tennium homipis intestinorum descriptionem,” Leyden, 1722, 4to; 1724, | 8vo. 2. “De anatome errores detegente in medicina,” Utrecht, 1723, 4to. ¹