Vol 18, No 5 (2011)
History of Cardiology
Published online: 2011-09-21

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500th anniversary of the birth of the precursor of modern cardiology: Josephus Struthius Polonus (1510–1568

Andrzej Grzybowski, Jarosław Sak, Jakub Pawlikowski
Cardiol J 2011;18(5):581-586.

Abstract

In this article, the authors take a closer look at the figure of Josephus Struthius Polonus (1510– –1568), one of the most famous physicians of the European Renaissance, on the 500th anniversary of his birth. Struthius became famous for his critical analysis of Galen’s works and his own research into the circulatory system. The analysis of Struthius’s scientific achievements leads to a conclusion that he was one of the pioneers of modern cardiology. He was a precursor of William Harvey (1578–1657) in studying the cardiovascular system, and the first person in the history of European medicine to present the pulse in a graphic form. He also presented similar ideas to those proposed in the 19th century by the inventor of the sphygmograph Karl von Vierodt (1818–1884), and the inventor of the polygraph Sir James Mackenzie (1853–1925).
(Cardiol J 2011; 18, 5: 581–586)

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