, an eminent Italian phy-, sician, was born in one of the Venetian
, an eminent Italian phy-,
sician, was born in one of the Venetian states in 1428. He
was professor of medicine at Ferrara during upwards of,
sixty years, and was the first person who undertook to
translate the works of Galen into Latin. His attachment
to literary pursuits alienated him from practice; and in
excuse he used to say, “I do more service to the public
than if I visited the sick, by instructing those who are
to cure them.
” Extending his attention also to the belles
lettres, he wrote some poetry, and translated into Italian
the history of Dion Cassius, and the dialogues of Lucian.
Until the age of thirty, Leonicenus was tormented with
frequent attacks of epilepsy, which reduced him at times
to melancholy and despair. This disease, however, afterwards left him, and, by means of great regularity and temperance, he attained the age of ninety-six years, and died
in 1524, possessed of all his faculties. To one who in
quired, with astonishment, by what secret he had preserved
this entire possession of his faculties, together with an erect
body and vigorous health, at so great an age, he replied,
that it was the effect of innocence of manners, tranquillity
of mind, and frugality in diet. The duke and senate of.
Ferrara erected a monument to his memory. He left several works, most of which have been several times reprinted, but are not now in request, except perhaps his
examination of the errors of Pliny, &c. “Plinii et aliorurn
plurimum auctorum qui de simplicibus medicaminibui
scripserunt, crrores notati,
” Bude, 1532, folio, which involved him in a controversy, sustained with his usual
tranquillity; and his “Liber de Epidemia quam Itali morbum Gallicum vocant,
” Venice,