CARDAN (Hieronymus, or Jerom)

, one of the most extraordinary geniuses of his age, was born at Pavia, in Italy, Sept. 24, 1501. At 4 years old he was carried to Milan, his father being an advocate and physician in that city: at the age of 20 he went to study in the university of the same city; and two years afterward he explained Euclid. In 1524, he went to Padua: the same year he was admitted to the degree of master of arts; and the year following, that of doctor of physic. He married about the year 1531; and became professor of mathematics, and practised medicine at Milan about 1533. In 1539 he was admitted a member of the college of physicians at Milan: in 1543 he read public lectures in medicine there; and the same at Pavia the year following; but he discontinued them because he could not get payment of his salary, and returned to Milan.

In 1552 he went into Scotland, having been sent for by the archbishop of St. Andrews, to cure him of a grievous disorder, after trying the physicians of the king of France and of the emperor of Germany, without benefit. He began to recover from the day that Cardan prescribed for him: our author took his leave of him at the end of six weeks and three days, leaving him prescriptions which in two years wrought a complete cure. Upon this visit Cardan passed through London, and calculated king Edward's nativity; for he was famous for his knowledge in astrology, as well as those of mathematics and medicine. Returning to Milan, after four months absence, he remained there till the beginning of Oct. 1552; and then went to Pavia, from whence he was invited to Bologna in 1562. He taught in this last city till the year 1570; at which time he was thrown into prison; but some months after he was sent home to his own house. He quitted Bologna in 1571; and went to Rome, where he lived for some time without any public employment. He was however admitted a member of the college of physicians, and received a pension from the Pope, till the time of his death, which happened at Rome on the 21st of September 1575.

Cardan, at the same time that he was one of the greatest geniuses and most learned men of his age, in all the sciences, was one of the most eccentric and fickle in conduct of all men that ever lived: despising all good principles and opinions, and without one friend in the world. The same capriciousness that was remarkable in his outward conduct, is also observable in the composition of his numerous and elaborate works. In many of his treatises the reader is stopped almost every moment by the obscurity of his text, or by digressions from the point in hand. In his arithmetical writings there are several discourses on the motions of the planets, on the creation, on the Tower of Babel, and such like. And the apology which he made for these frequent digressions is, that he might by that means enlarge and fill up his book, his bargain with the bookseller being at so much per sheet; and that he worked as much for his daily support as for fame. The Lyons edition of his works, printed in 1663, consists of no less than 10 volumes in folio.

In fact, when we consider the transcendent qualities of Cardan's mind, it cannot be denied that he cultivated it with every species of knowledge, and made a greater progress in philosophy, in the medical art, in astronomy, in mathematics, and the other sciences, than the most part of his contemporaries who had applied themselves but to one only of those sciences. In particular, he was perhaps the very best algebraist of his time, a science in which he made great improvements; and his labours in cubic equations especially have rendered his name immortal, the rules for resolving them having ever since borne his name, and are likely to do so as long as the science shall exist, although he received the first knowledge of them from another person; the account of which, and his disputes with Tartalea, have been given at large under the article Algebra.

Scaliger affirms, that Cardan, having by astrology predicted and fixed the time of his death, abstained from all food, that his prediction might be fulfilled, and that his continuance to live might not discredit his art. It is farther remarkable, that Cardan's father also died in this manner, in the year 1524, having abstained from sustenance for nine days. Our author too informs us that his father had white eyes, and could see in the night-time.

CARDINAL Points, in Geography, are the east, west, north, and south points of the horizon.

Cardinal Points of the Heavens, or of a Nativity, are the rising and setting of the sun, the zenith and nadir.

Cardinal Signs, are those at the four quarters, or the equinoxes and solstices, viz, the signs Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. |

Cardinal Winds, are those that blow from the four cardinal points, viz, the east, west, north, and south winds.