Sanctorius’s Work in Its Practical Context

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter spotlights the practical context of theDe statica medicinaand explores Sanctorius’s use of instrumentation. The investigation of the form and style of theDe statica medicinaand its relation to the literary genre ofRegimina sanitatis—a medieval tradition of rules of health—allows important conclusions to be drawn on how Sanctorius shared his practical experiences, on his intended audience, and more generally, on the purpose of the publication. Complementary to established knowledge on Sanctorius, the analysis of his use of instrumentation focuses here not on the measuring instruments, but on the various other lesser-known devices that he developed, ranging from surgical devices to a special sickbed. I examine the relation of these devices to Sanctorius’s medical practice as well as to his teaching activities at the University of Padua. Even though—or exactly because—they were not part of the quantitative approach to physiology, their study helps to complement the picture of Sanctorius as a practicing physician. Moreover, it provides glimpses of the social context in which he developed and used his instruments and of how he used his head and hands in medicine. Finally, the results of this chapter allow theDe statica medicinato be reviewed afresh within the broader practical context of Sanctorius’s undertakings.