Arnoldus Boot, author of one of the first descriptions of rickets (1649) / [M.A. van Andel].
- Andel, Martinus Antonie van, 1878-1941.
- Date:
- 1927
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Arnoldus Boot, author of one of the first descriptions of rickets (1649) / [M.A. van Andel]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
6/18 page 348
![34§ gienic conditions. He observes, that such difformities occur fre¬ quently in Rome and ascribes them to the humidity of the soil in that city, as it is moistened by many cold currents. We may assume, that the insufficient hygienic conditions in that over¬ crowded town, with its slums and alleys may have caused the same effects, which we daily observe as the results of a crowded population and the want of light and air ]). I will abstain from quotations of other authors, to be found in the articles mentioned, yet there are two dutch physicians of the 16th and iyth century, who make allusions to informities of children, which may be imputed to rickets. In one of the observations of Petrus Forestus (1522—1597), he describes the gibbositas and observes: “Sed hie sciendum, quod vertebris dorsi, turn lato ossi pectoris (quod tho¬ rax dicitur, ad quod semicirculi costarum verarum terminantur) ut incurventur intus et ecterius accidat et foedam corporis faciant figuram cum attractione colli et elevatione humerorum atque ex- siccatione coxarum vel ancharum. Prima (causa) est oscium prae- dictorum teneritas et mollities, similiter et ligamentorum eius, sicut accidit pueris et infantibus, quare non possunt molem capi¬ tis et gravitatem propriam sustentare” 1 2). Another dutch physician, Johan van Beverwyck (1594—1647) the author of a very popular handbook of hygienics: „De schat der Gesontheijt” (The treasure of health), advises, not to force young children to walk too early, as their legs are often not strong enough and will bend under the weight of their body 3). Although it would be rather rash to deduce from such cursory and incomplete observations, that the authors had a satisfactory conception of the clinical entity, which we nowadays are used to call rachitis, yet it seems to me, that they prove, that rickets occurred several centuries before Glisson had described them 1) L. Aschoff. Ueber das Vorkommen der Rachitis im Altertum, Janus 1901, p.206. (Citation from: Die Gynaekologie des Soranus. Ed. Luneburg und Huber 1894). 2) Dom. Petri Foresti Alcmariani M.D. Observationum et Curationum Medic, ac. chirurg. Op. omnia quatuor tomis digesta Rothamogi Sumpt. Joann, et David. Berthelin Fratr. MDCLIII Tom. Ill Obs. XXII. 1) Alle de Wercken zoo in de Medicyne, als Chirurgie van den Heer Joan van Beverwyck, Amsterdam Jan Jacobsz. Schipper op de Keyzersgracht. Schat der Ge sondheyt, p. 169.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30626134_0006.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
