Bartholine, Caspar

, an eminent physician, was born Feb. 12, 1585, at Malmoe or Malmuylin in Scandinavia, where his father was a Lutheran divine. In his third year, it is said, he could read with ease, and at thirteen he composed Greek and Latin orations, and pronounced them in public, and at eighteen, he went to study in the university of Copenhagen. In 1603 he removed to Rostock, and thence to Wirtemberg. He continued three years in this last place, where he applied himself to philosophy and divinity with so much assiduity, that he rose always before break of day, and went to bed very late. When he had finished his studies, he took his degree of master of arts in 1607.

Bartholine now began his travels; and, after having gone through part of Germany, Flanders, and Holland, he passed over to England, whence he removed to Germany, iii order to proceed to Italy. After his departure from Wirtemberg, he had made physic his principal study, and neglected nothing to improve himself in the different universities through which he passed. He received everywhere marks of respect at Naples particularly they solicited him to be anatomical professor, but he declined it. In France he was offered the Greek professorship at Sedan, | which he also refused. After he had travelled as far as the frontiers of Spain, he returned to Italy, in order to perfect himself in the practice of medicine. He went from thence to Padua, where he applied with great care to anatomy and dissection. After some stay in this place he removed to Basil, where he had studied physic some time before; and here he received his doctor’s degree in physic in 1610. He next went to Wirtemberg and Holland, and intended to have extended his travels still farther, had he not been appointed professor of the Latin tongue at Copenhagen; but he did not enjoy this long; for, at the end of six months, in 1613, he was chosen professor of medicine, which was much more adapted to his talents and disposition. He held this professorship eleven years, when he fell into an illness, which made him despair of life: in this extremity he made a vow, that if he was restored to health, he would apply himself to no other study than that of divinity. He recovered, and kept his promise. Conrad Aslach, the professor of divinity, dying some years after Caspar was appointed his successor, the 12th of March 1624; the king also gave him the canonry of Roschild. He died of a violent colic, the 13th of July 1629, at Sora, whither he had gone to conduct his eldest son. His works are, 1. “Problematum philosophicorum et medicorum miscellaneae observationes,” 1611, 4to. 2. “Opuscula quatuor singularia, de lapide nephritico, &c.” Hafniye, 1623 and 1663. 3. “Anatomicac institutiones,” 1611, often reprinted. 4. “Controversial Anatomicat,” 1631. 5. “Syntagma medicum et chirurgicum de cauteriis,” 1642. 6. “Enchiridion physicum,” 1625. 7. “Systema physicum,” 1628. 8. “Manuductio ad veram phycologiam ex sacr. litter. &c.” 1631, 12mo. Brochmand pronounced a funeral oration, containing a life of Bartholine. ¹