Monday, July 19, 2010
Continuing to explore the rich collections here in Philadelphia, this post looks at three textbooks edited by Georg Tannstetter, the Viennese astrologer/astronomer and personal physician to Emperor Maximilian I. Tannstetter’s texts are in The College of Physicians, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the American Philosophical Society.
Posted by Darin on 07/19 at 11:47 PM
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
A quick look at three editions of Joh. Ganivet’s important tract on medical astrology: the Amicus medicorum. Written in the early 15th century, it was printed five times between 1496 and 1614. The earliest three are at the College of Physicians.
Posted by Darin on 07/18 at 11:41 PM
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Monday, July 12, 2010
This post looks at Joseph Moxon’s efforts in the late 17th century to make science fun and to popularize astronomy by using astronomical playing cards.
Posted by Darin on 07/12 at 11:43 PM
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Friday, July 09, 2010
This post points to some early tracts on the French Disease (often identified as syphilis) and offers a brief account of Joseph Grünpeck’s two works on the disease, highlighting his astrological account of the illness.
Posted by Darin on 07/09 at 12:23 PM
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Friday, June 25, 2010
A quick look at one of the books from the Historical Library at the College of Physicians: Walter Burley’s Super VIII libros physicorum
Posted by Darin on 06/25 at 11:30 PM
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Saturday, May 08, 2010
In an infamous case of poisoning in 19th-century France, Madame Lafarge was tried for murder. On trial too were expert witnesses and the applicability of chemistry and science to courtroom proceedings.
Posted by Darin on 05/08 at 11:43 PM
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
This is the first is of perhaps three or four posts that explores the history and historiography of the Scientific Revolution. In particular, these posts will examine some of the explanations historians have given for why the Scientific Revolution occurred in Western Europe and not elsewhere, most notably China or Islam.
Posted by Darin on 03/30 at 07:00 AM
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Saturday, March 13, 2010
Yet another anniversary to celebrate today: the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius.
Posted by Darin on 03/13 at 11:45 PM
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The latest in my Pluto project posts. This post, on the anniversary of the announcement of the discovery of a trans-Neptunian object, looks as some of those earliest announcements to see how they portrayed the discovery and who got credit for making it.
Posted by Darin on 03/13 at 11:30 PM
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Monday, March 08, 2010
This (long) post offers some thoughts about Peruna and its continued success into the 20th century. I suggest that Peruna’s success needs to be seen within the context of a continuing belief in astrology, particularly amongst certain populations in the U.S. I highlight the ways that Peruna’s astrological claims would resonate with the Amish and Mennonite communities.
Posted by Darin on 03/08 at 02:47 PM
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