Ernst Anton Nicolai (7 September 1722 – 28 August 1802) was a German physician and
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...
.
In 1745, Nicolai earned his medical doctorate from the
University of Halle
Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg (german: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg), also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg and the largest and oldest university i ...
, where he was a disciple of
Johann Heinrich Schulze and
Friedrich Hoffmann
Friedrich Hoffmann or Hofmann (19 February 1660 – 12 November 1742) was a German physician and chemist. He is also sometimes known in English as Frederick Hoffmann.
Life
His family had been connected with medicine for 200 years before him. Bo ...
. Soon afterwards, he obtained his habilitation in medicine, becoming an associate professor in 1748. At
Halle, he gave lectures on theoretical subjects in the fields of
pathology
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...
,
physiology
Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical ...
and
pharmacology
Pharmacology is a branch of medicine, biology and pharmaceutical sciences concerned with drug or medication action, where a drug may be defined as any artificial, natural, or endogenous (from within the body) molecule which exerts a biochemica ...
, later giving clinical lectures on
diseases of the eye and childhood maladies.
[Wikisource]
@ Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, german: Universal German Biography) is one of the most important and comprehensive biographical reference works in the German language.
It was published by the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Aca ...
[Biography of Nicolai]
@ NDB/ADB Deutsche Biographie
In 1758, Nicolai was appointed professor of theoretical medicine at the
University of Jena
The University of Jena, officially the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (german: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, abbreviated FSU, shortened form ''Uni Jena''), is a public research university located in Jena, Thuringia, Germany.
The un ...
. During the following year, he became a professor of chemistry and clinical medicine at Jena, a position he held until his death in 1802. As a physician, he was a proponent of
humoral pathology and the
doctrine of vitalism. He was a follower of
Leibniz' concept of monadism, reportedly seeking solutions to medical problems based on the philosophic viewpoints of
Gottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm (von) Leibniz . ( – 14 November 1716) was a German polymath active as a mathematician, philosopher, scientist and diplomat. He is one of the most prominent figures in both the history of philosophy and the history of mathem ...
.
[
]
Published works
He was the author of many works, being published in Latin and German. The following are his principal works that were written in the German language:
* ''Die Verbindung der Musik mit der Artzneygelahrheit'', 1745 – The connection of music with medical knowledge.
* ''Abhandlung Von Der Schönheit Des Menschlichen Körpers'', 1746 – Treatise on the beauty of the human body.
* ''Versuch eines Lehrgebäudes von den Fiebern überhaupt'', 1752.
* ''Pathologie oder Wissenschaft von Krankheiten'', (several volumes, 1769–) – Pathology; the science of illness.
* ''Recepte und Kurarten nebst theoretisch-practischen Anmerkungen'', 1789 – Prescriptions and remedies with theoretical-practical comments.Google Search
(publications)
* ''Die trefflichsten Recepte und vorzüglichsten Kurarten der besten Aerzte aller Zeiten: mit theoretisch-praktischen Anmerkungen'' . Mayregg, Prag nach der 2. Aufl. in einen kernigten Auszug gebracht Digital_edition
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Digital edition
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Digital edition
by the University and State Library Düsseldorf
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicolai, Ernst Anton
1722 births
1802 deaths
People from Sondershausen
University of Halle alumni
18th-century German physicians
18th-century German chemists
Academic staff of the University of Halle
Academic staff of the University of Jena