Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)
Although Lehigh’s collection does not include a printed edition of Vesalius’ Fabrica, the collection contains a digitized facsimile of the 1543 Basel edition of Vesalius’ De humani corporis fabrica from the copy in the Warnock Library accompanied by a commentary by Katharine Park. The text of this electronic copy is searchable and displays may be magnified up to 300%.
First published in 1543, this ground-breaking medical text established Vesalius as the father of modern anatomical science, as he based his findings on observation rather than tradition. He completed the Fabrica at age 28, at a time when bodies for dissection were difficult to obtain. He challenged (and actually proved erroneous) many old Galenic “laws,” throughout his studies at Louvain, Montpellier, Paris, and Padua. Vesalius conducted public anatomical demonstrations such as is depicted in the title page of the Fabrica (shown here in facsimile) which shows Vesalius himself performing the dissection.
