The Ancien Régime instrumental Meteorological Observations in Belgium or the Physician with Lancet and Thermometer in the Wake of Hippocrates
Authors
Demarée,G.
Discipline
Earth and related Environmental sciences
Subject
18th century
19th century
Medicometeorological
Relationship
Health
Weather
Climate
Meteorological Observations Belgium
Audience
General Public
Scientific
Date
2005Publisher
IRM
KMI
RMI
Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
The paper unravels the close connection that, from the end of the 17th century until well into the 19th century, brought together meteorologists and physicians into one common programme. This connection was based upon the works of the Greek physician Hippocrates, and particularly "Airs, Waters, and Places". The ancient doctrine underwent a strong revival in the 18th century and formed the basis of the founding of the "Societe Royale de Medecine" in Paris. This society, under the direct guidance of the French govermnent, launched a nationwide medicometeorological enquiry. Its goal was to find the relationship between health, weather, climate and also the environment in order to understand the appearance and spread of illnesses, particularly -the epidemics and epizootics. The meteorological observations carried out by the physicians in the framework of the neo-hippocratic hypothesis form the cornerstones of the early meteorological observations in Belgium. Their importance in Global Change is highlighted because of their use in the climate reconstruction over the last hundreds ofyears.
Citation
Demarée,G. (2005). The Ancien Régime instrumental Meteorological Observations in Belgium or the Physician with Lancet and Thermometer in the Wake of Hippocrates. , Issue Sartoniana, Volume 17, 13 - 41, IRM,Identifiers
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Not pertinent
Language
eng