| Swedenborg, Linnaeus and brain research--and the roles of Gustaf Retzius and Alfred Stroh in the rediscovery of Swedenborg's manuscripts. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17578815 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) at the end of his long life became famous as a visionary mystic and founder of a new religion. However, at younger age, he was recognized as a prominent mining engineer and natural philosopher, particularly interested in geology, mineralogy, cosmology, paleontology and last but not least physiology of the brain. In his Oeconomica regni animalis (1740) and in several posthumously published extensive manuscripts, he described and analyzed e.g. the structural and functional organization of the cerebral cortex, the hierarchical construction of the nervous system, the localization of the cerebrospinal fluid and the secretory functions of the pituitary gland. In these fields, he presented remarkable insights and far reaching conclusions which in some cases have been experimentally verified in modern times. In spite of family relations Swedenborg rarely met the 19 years younger Linnaeus. Linnaeus was not only the founder of the systemic botany but as physician a keen and to some extent original observer of neurological symptoms; one of the first who adequately described motor aphasia. To regard these two men, among the few Swedish authors of the 18th century whose names are still internationally well known, as early precursors of neurological research, seems justified. The young Canadian, Alfred H. Stroh (1878-1922), had a crucial importance for the research on the works of Swedenborg, and the rediscovery of his manuscripts. His work was supported and financed to a large extent by professor Gustaf Retzius, at that time the most prominent Swedish researcher in anatomy and histology. There are many reasons to be thankful for the important contributions made by Alfred Stroh and Gustaf Retzius to stimulate the interest for Emanuel Swedenborg in Sweden and internationally. |
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Authors:
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Torsten E Gordh; William G P Mair; Patrick Sourander |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Biography; Historical Article; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Upsala journal of medical sciences Volume: 112 ISSN: 2000-1967 ISO Abbreviation: Ups. J. Med. Sci. Publication Date: 2007 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-06-20 Completed Date: 2008-08-11 Revised Date: 2009-03-02 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0332203 Medline TA: Ups J Med Sci Country: Sweden |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 143-64 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Anaestehsiology and Intensive Care, Uppsala University Hosptal, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. torsten.gordh@surgsci.uu.se |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Brain
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physiology* History, 17th Century History, 18th Century History, 19th Century History, 20th Century Publishing / history* Sweden |
| Personal Name Subject | |
Personal Name Subject:
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Emanuel Swedenborg; Gustaf Retzius; Alfred H Stroh; Carl Von Linnaeus |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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